TheCable

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, says he was not perturbed by being referred to as an “audio governor”.

Makinde spoke on Friday at the swearing in of the seven commissioner nominees who were reappointed into his cabinet.

The governor said he enjoyed being called the “audio governor” because “they are acknowledging the visuals”.

He further said that his critics, who have now acknowledged the “visuals” of his government, are now asking if the projects are sustainable.

According to him, “they will constantly be shifting their position until they have nowhere else to shift to”.

He assured the people that his administration will continue to take development to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

“Our administration has become known for sustainable development in all sectors, with no communities left behind. We want to continue to do even more than what we have done before,” Makinde said.

“I meet people and once they tell me they are from Oyo State, I ask them the geopolitical zone they are from. And once they tell me, I ask them if they have seen so and so projects in their communities. So, that is what we are known for. It is even development all across the state and that is where we really want to be.

“I remember that over a year ago, they said everything we were doing was audio. Then, I actually enjoyed being the ‘audio governor.’ For me being audio, they are acknowledging the visuals and by the time we are done, they will understand that we have set a new bar on governance.

“I was recently talking to a brother-governor and he said to me that, first, they called you audio. Now, they are saying we are seeing what you guys are doing. But then, they ask if those things are sustainable. We have sustained payment of salaries for our workers and pensioners in the state for over two years. So, they will constantly be shifting their position until they have nowhere else to shift to.”

Makinde urged the commissioners to play their part in ensuring that emphatic and service-oriented leadership becomes the norm in the state.

“The people of Oyo State will no longer be dragged down to the days of mediocre leadership. You all have a role to play in ensuring that ’emphatic’ leadership becomes the new normal in Oyo State and, by extension, Nigeria because the whole country is watching. We should not relent but keep raising the bar,” he said.

“Yes, we have done so much already but this is not the time to rest on our oars but think of more innovative ways to deliver on our mandate and positively touch the lives of the good people of Oyo State.

“When we complete our tenure in office, we will have set a new bar of governance in Oyo State and I believe that by that time, I would have one or two things to learn from yourselves.”