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Why I Accepted To Run For Second Term – Makinde

Published

3 years ago

December 23, 2023

eghosa

Why I Accepted To Run For Second Term – Makinde

seyi amakinde6

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to run for a second term in office, citing persuasion from religious leaders and other stakeholders.

He emphasized that he committed to seeking re-election because he aimed to surpass the achievements of his first term.

Governor Makinde expressed gratitude to religious leaders and the Christian community in the state for their wise counsel, prayers, and support throughout 2023. Acknowledging their significant role during the last election, he described the church as a strong pillar of support for his administration.

The governor made these statements during a special prayer and interactive session organized by the Fathers of Faith in Oyo State.

The gathering included notable General Overseers and Ministers of God in the state. The event, held at his Ikolaba GRA residence, saw the presence of distinguished personalities such as Reverend (Dr) ‘Supo Ayokunle, the immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Reverend (Dr) Israel Akanji, the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, among others.

Governor Makinde highlighted that the achievements of his administration during Omituntun 1.0 were realized with divine assistance. He assured that the government, under Omituntun 2.0, labeled “Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2027,” would make even greater strides.

He said: “This getting together to pray is very important to me. When we have a close gathering like this, I can speak my mind freely without being misquoted.

“I want to, on behalf of my family, say merry Christmas and compliments of the season and to wish all of us a happy and rewarding year 2024 ahead of us.

“Since after the election, this is the first opportunity I have to say thank you to the Christian body. By faith, we knew we were coming back for a second term. We achieved almost 90 per cent of all we wrote down in our Roadmap for Accelerated Development.

“We also put out a roadmap for sustainable development of the state for the second term and I pray that God will give us the enablement to achieve more than 90 per cent of those things we listed in the document.

“So, from the bottom of my heart I say thank you; the Church did not only pray to secure my second term but also went out. So, I want to thank you.”

The governor emphasized that the nation is currently grappling with numerous challenges but assured that brighter days lie ahead.

However, he cautioned individuals and groups seeking economic gains for themselves to refrain from exploiting religious sentiments, as doing so could potentially divide the state.

He added: “Of course, once you are on a trajectory where God is in control, envy will set in and that was exactly what happened a few weeks back when we were commissioning the Adogba mosque. I said it there that, look, a few individuals went out to tell Muslims not to vote for me but, when the result came in, 70 per cent of Muslims still voted for me. But then, they turned it and they were saying that I said 70 per cent of my votes came from Muslims.

“But let me thank the CAN chairman; without even talking to me, he came to my defence. Officially, they went out and clarified the statement. I am saying here that without your prayers and the wise counsel coming from the fathers of faith and individuals from the Church, there is no way we can survive in this environment.

“So, I will give the assurance that I would not have accepted the pressure from the fathers of faith to run for a second tenure if I did not make up my mind to do even more than what we have done before. So, please put us in your prayers. Let the people know that the pillar of support for this administration is the Church.”

The governor also commented on the ongoing dispute regarding the conversion of the Agodi Forest into Baywood Estate.

He acknowledged the global concern about climate change but asserted that the decision to establish the estate was made in the best interest of the state.

The governor highlighted his administration’s commitment to listening to the people, recognizing that individuals outside the government may possess valuable insights. He reiterated that the choice to develop a housing estate in that area would benefit the entire state.

“Makinde noted: people were talking about Agodi Gardens. When they started the project, I asked somebody about the size of the forest and he said I should forget about the size, saying even if it is a tiny tree, we must protect it. And I said, no part of Agodi Gardens will be affected. What we said they should do is to convert the forest to an estate that will serve the people of Oyo State.

“I have asked some people involved in the issue of keeping the forest to come and debate with me on what we are trying to do on global warming and the rest. The challenges we are faced with are not like the ones the advanced countries are facing.

“What we need to do first is to take our people out of poverty. Once we can prosper, all of these things will come in properly.”

In his exhortation entitled, “the dialect of thanksgiving,” Reverend Samson Ajetomobi charged people to be thankful in all circumstances, saying that only the living can change the situation around them.

He appreciated Governor Makinde for his unprecedented achievements, especially in the area of construction of roads, which has resulted in the expansion of the state economy, urging him not to relent in his efforts for more laudable impacts.

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