Makinde assures of continued good governance after tenure 

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Sunday stated that whereas his tenure will finish in Might 2027, members of his group, with whom he has delivered good governance, are poised to proceed the work in several capacities.

He acknowledged this throughout a Thanksgiving Service in commemoration of Oyo State’s ongoing fiftieth anniversary, held on the Cathedral of St Peter’s, Aremo, in Ibadan, the state capital.

The governor stated his administration would proceed to manipulate the state in accordance with the desire and steerage of God for the folks, including that his authorities has constructed robust foundations because the state enters its subsequent part.

PidomNigeria On-line stories that Makinde inaugurated the state’s fiftieth anniversary on Monday, January 26, on the Worldwide Convention Centre, University of Ibadan.

Members of the family of former governors, conventional and non secular leaders, high authorities functionaries, and political stakeholders gathered on the ICC to have a good time the state, which was created on February 3, 1976, from the previous Western Area of Nigeria, with Ibadan as its administrative capital.

The state authorities had unveiled a week-long programme for the anniversary on January 21, 2026. The occasions embrace non secular providers, cultural exhibitions, an awards and dinner night time, and a public lecture titled, “Consolidating the Legacy, Navigating the Current and Reimagining the Future.”

Makinde had earlier appointed Saheed Fijabi, a former member of the Home of Representatives, as chairman of the 11-member planning committee for the anniversary.

Through the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, the governor, who had earlier learn the second Bible lesson from Matthew 5:1-12, congratulated all residents on witnessing the celebration of the state’s golden jubilee, which he attributed to God’s grace.

He emphasised that his emergence as governor in 2019, after contesting for eight years, might solely be attributed to God’s mercy, which enabled the state to expertise a brand new starting.

He due to this fact assured the folks of continuity of fine governance after the expiration of his tenure, stressing that his group remains to be intact and can stick with it the nice work.

“I wish to congratulate all of us for witnessing Oyo State at 50, and I pray that we will witness many extra years on earth. After I turned the governor of this state in 2019, I used to be the eighth civilian or govt governor, and the importance of eight within the Bible depicts a brand new starting. So, the journey has been a brand new starting for Oyo. I didn’t plan it.

“I inform folks that I’m not ashamed to say I don’t have a godfather; I solely have God the Father. Some persons are upset, saying I got here to them to ask for help to be elected. Sure, you go someplace to hunt help. Does that make the individual your godfather?

“So, God has been merciful to us, and we are going to proceed to function in keeping with His will and steerage. God has introduced a selected governor at a selected time to indicate a brand new starting for the state. My cost to you as we have a good time this fiftieth anniversary is that we must always not return to the place we got here from. Allow us to keep targeted.

“We now have a group that’s nonetheless intact. It’s only Seyi Makinde who will depart; members of the group are there to proceed working for the folks of the state. We’ll proceed to function in accordance with the desire and steerage of God for Oyo State,” Makinde assured.

In his goodwill message, the Labour Party presidential candidate within the 2023 normal election and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, lauded Makinde’s management fashion and transformation agenda within the state.

“It’s at all times an honour to be in Ibadan. I used to be right here on Tuesday to go to the college, and I informed somebody that this can be a historic city the place all of us, as Nigerians, come as a result of it’s a metropolis of data and hope.

“The individuals who got here with me stated you don’t know the way this place has modified, and I respect the preacher for what he stated about how the state has developed below Governor Makinde.

“I thank the governor for faithfully serving the folks. As you have a good time this fiftieth anniversary, I pray that the subsequent fifty years of this nice state can be exemplary. Might God proceed to bless our governor and all of the members of his group. I used to be right here on the onset of his authorities. I used to be a type of introduced in to speak to his commissioners, and I thank him for his distinctive work.

“As I conclude, I wish to make a request to Nigerians: please at all times keep in mind us, politicians, in prayers. We’re the issue of Nigeria. No different individual. Nigeria just isn’t a poor nation however solely poorly ruled. Keep in mind us in your prayers, that God ought to contact our hearts to make use of public cash for the general public good. That’s what Makinde is doing on this state”, Obi stated.

Earlier, in his sermon entitled “Gratitude,” the Archbishop of Ibadan Province, The Most Rev’d Williams Aladekugbe, stated God has been good to Oyo State and hailed previous leaders who contributed meaningfully to the expansion of the state over the past 50 years.

He congratulated the governor for his people-oriented programme, which has formed the state and caused infrastructure growth, improved staff’ and pensioners’ welfare, and peaceable coexistence, amongst different achievements.

Particular prayers had been provided for Governor Makinde, the state, previous leaders/governors, and Nigeria, in addition to for the continuity of fine governance via a worthy successor.

Dignitaries on the occasion included the Governor’s spouse, Tamunominini Makinde; Spouse of the Osun State Governor, Titilola Adeleke; former First Girl of Oyo State, Mutiat Ladoja; Chief Decide of the state, Iyabo Yerima; Secretary to the State Authorities, Musibau Babatunde; Chief of Workers, Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; Deputy Chief of Workers, Kazeem Adeniyi; and the Chairman of the Oyo State @ 50 Committee, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi.