History will remember Engr. Seyi Makinde as more than just another governor. He will be remembered as the man who pulled Oyo out of the abyss created by the APC and restored dignity, development, and direction to the state. A quick search on Google is enough to open a floodgate of his achievements, each one documented in the public record for all to see.
That the Oyo APC still attempts to throw mud at this towering record of service only proves one thing: they are clutching at straws. These are the same people who drove the state into ruin during their eight wasteful years in office.
Now, seeing Oyo thrive under Makinde’s leadership, they are left bitter, irrelevant, and exposed. The people of Oyo have not forgotten the suffering they endured under APC rule. They also know that it took divine intervention and their collective will in 2019 to eject the impostors and enthrone a governor whose energy, vision, and compassion would change the face of governance.
Date Adeleke
His Excellency, Gov. Makinde ‘s decision to channel part of the recently approved ₦300 billion loan into capital projects while refinancing existing obligations reflects “rare courage and intelligence in public financial management.” For many, it was yet another reminder that Makinde governs with foresight and a sense of responsibility uncommon in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Governor Makinde has proven that prudence and accountability can yield huge results. Indeed, the results are everywhere to see, in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agribusiness, and in the renewed confidence of Oyo citizens who now know what it means to have a government that truly works for them.
Makinde is not only a governor; he is a phenomenon. A self-made billionaire with a work ethic that has become legendary, he has transformed Oyo into a socio-economic hub that rivals the best in Nigeria. He has done this with clear vision, firm decision-making, and an uncommon refusal to play the petty politics that his detractors thrive on.
Let us remind the APC and their cheerleaders of what real governance looks like:
Roads are being built and rehabilitated across the state, from the Moniya-Iseyin axis to the Ibadan Circular Road. Hundreds of kilometres of infrastructure now serve farmers, traders, and commuters, easing the cost of doing business and opening up communities that the APC left in isolation.
The healthcare sector, once in shambles, is alive again. Primary Health Centres have been rebuilt, stocked, and staffed. The health insurance scheme, once a ghost programme, now covers over 300,000 citizens. For the first time in years, healthcare is no longer a luxury.
In education, Makinde achieved what many thought impossible – sole ownership of LAUTECH. He has employed thousands of teachers, reduced fees, and given young people a chance at a brighter future. Compare this to APC’s years of strikes, underfunding, and neglect.
On security, Oyo’s Amotekun Corps stands as a model for other states, a locally rooted, community-based response to crime, fully backed with modern equipment and trained personnel. While others talk, Oyo acts.
In agribusiness, the Fasola Transformation Hub is a shining jewel. What was dead land under the APC is now a thriving hub of jobs, factories, and industrial-scale farming. Troli International’s investment is just one example of how Makinde’s vision is converting farmland into economic powerhouses.
And the list goes on – energy reforms, prompt salary payments, pension clearance, scholarships, sports promotion, climate initiatives. These are not promises on paper; they are realities on the ground.
Governor Makinde has also proven himself a master of diplomacy and peace-building, calming storms stirred by reckless predecessors and making Oyo a state respected by its neighbours. Where the APC thrived on chaos, Makinde has built consensus. Where they sowed division, he fostered unity.
It is little wonder that Nigerians beyond Oyo are now calling on him to aim higher, to step into the national arena. Whether or not he takes that path, one truth cannot be denied: when his tenure ends in May 2027, Makinde will leave behind a record of service unmatched in the annals of Oyo politics.
Omituntun is not just a slogan. It is the living evidence that good governance is possible. That is why, no matter the noise from the APC camp, the people know the difference between darkness and light, and will never again choose darkness.
*Dare Adeleke is a foundation member of the PDP and notable leader in Oyo state.
He writes from Oja ‘ba,Ibadan.
