A public affairs analyst, Olayinka Ojo, has rated Governor Seyi Makinde the most impactful governor in Oyo State’s 50-year history, saying his strides in human capital development and road infrastructure remain unmatched and can be replicated nationwide to reset Nigeria.
Ojo, who said this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday, said an objective assessment of all civilian and military administrations that have governed the pace-setter state since its creation in February 1976 clearly shows that no leader has prioritized people and projects like Governor Makinde.
According to him, while some past administrations focused on brick and mortar without a human face, Makinde has successfully balanced massive infrastructure with deliberate investment in people, describing the approach as a new model of governance in Nigeria.
The analyst noted that the administration’s employment drive is unprecedented in the annals of the state, with verifiable records to prove it.
He said Governor Makinde, on assumption of office, embarked on large-scale recruitment to fill critical manpower gaps that had existed for years, thereby becoming what many residents now call a “merciful employer.”
“There is no governor in the 50-year existence of Oyo State who invested in human capital and employment like Engineer Seyi Makinde. With employment in education with over 20,000 people employed in education, including the health sector, civil service, and Amotekun Corps, thousands of young graduates who had lost hope were given jobs,” Ojo said.
He explained that the multiplier effect of the employment cannot be overemphasized, as each person employed sustains an average of five dependents, thereby indirectly taking millions out of poverty and stimulating the local economy.
On infrastructure, Olayinka Ojo said available data from the Ministry of Works and independent assessments confirm that Governor Makinde has constructed the highest kilometres of roads ever recorded by any administration in the history of Oyo State.
He said unlike previous governments where road projects were concentrated in Ibadan, Makinde has ensured equity and spread, with every geopolitical zone – Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun – benefiting substantially.
He cited landmark projects such as the Moniya-Iseyin road which reconnected Oke-Ogun to Ibadan, the Oyo-Iseyin road, the Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho road, the Ido-Eruwa road, the Apete-Awotan-Akufo road, and the ongoing first phase of the Ibadan Circular Road, in addition to hundreds of kilometres of inner roads rehabilitated within Ibadan metropolis and other major towns.
“These roads have not only eased movement but have opened up rural communities for agricultural commercialization, attracted investors and reduced travel time for farmers and traders. That is what infrastructure is meant to do,” he added.
Ojo maintained that Nigeria is currently in dire need of a total reset, and that what Governor Makinde has demonstrated in Oyo State is a template that can work for the entire federation.
According to him, the nation’s problem has always been leadership that lacks empathy and competence, a gap he said Makinde has closed in Oyo State.
He therefore posited that if allowed to serve as President of Nigeria, Governor Makinde will deliver beyond what the current APC administration is offering Nigerians.
“If given the opportunity as President of Nigeria, Seyi Makinde will deliver beyond the current APC Administration. Do your findings with the number of employees employed by this merciful employer. It is not propaganda; it is verifiable,” Ojo stated.
He challenged those in doubt to embark on independent findings across the state, visit schools, hospitals and security formations and confirm the employment figures, or drive through the road projects executed by the administration.
Ojo concluded that Nigerians must begin to look beyond party slogans and consider capacity, compassion, and proven performance as criteria for choosing the next set of national leaders, noting that the Oyo example shows Nigeria can be governed differently and effectively.
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