Governor Seyi Makinde had said as an Engineer his administration is ready to sustain the high tempo of development he instituted in the state since assumption of office in May.
The Governor, who was speaking at his investiture as a Distinguished Member of the Ibadan Progressives Union (IPU) during a Special Reception held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said that his administration has so far executed some landmark projects without accessing any borrowed fund.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as saying that the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) was set to name the state an Agro-processing zone, adding that such a development would provide employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.
He said: “We are also focusing on security and expansion of our economy through agriculture and Agric value chain. We know that it is through agribusiness that our teeming youths can get jobs and I am pleased to announce that African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed to include Oyo State in the Agro-processing zone and that will get the needed support.”
Speaking on the unprecedented level of development his government has brought to bear on Oyo State in six months, Governor Makinde declared that he was not about to lift his legs off the pedal, adding that his administration would sustain the tempo of development in the state.
He said: “The civil servants are here and I make bold to tell you all that we have not accessed one Kobo of borrowed money on the things we have done in Oyo State up till this moment.
“Now, on the issue of sustainability, I am an Engineer and if you see an Engineer digging a hole in front of your house, he already knows how the structure he will build on it would look like. So, we will sustain the tempo.
“When we got into office six months ago, we outlined a few things we needed to do. One of them is to ensure that the economy of Oyo State, very month, is reflated with, at least, N8 billion. We thought of how to achieve this even when we need to pay salaries of workers every 25th. When we started, some were saying we can’t sustain that policy action but this is the sixth month we have fulfilled the obligation without borrowing a dime.
“People will always say that power gets into the head of politicians when they get into office. For example, if you want a 10 power-horse engine to tow a car, you can move from 0-100 km/hour within three to four seconds, but if you get to a point where you are supposed to apply brake and you are unable to, you will lose control.
“So, power without control is nothing. In fact, it is dysfunctional. The people of Oyo State have given me the power but I will apply all the control. Here, we are just starting; you have not seen anything yet.”
