Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday said his administration would work for the development of the state till his last day in office.
The governor stated this while being welcomed by political appointees and top echelon of the civil service at the frontage of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He said his three weeks’ vacation showed that the state had a strong team.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as saying that his administration would continue to work for the progress of the state till its last day in office.
He added that his government would take prosperity to the nooks and crannies of the state by delivering dividends of democracy to all.
The governor, who praised his deputy, Bayo Lawal, who acted as governor, for his commitment, sense of responsibility and loyalty, encouraged political office holders to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
He said he is looking forward to working with the deputy governor when his mandate is renewed by the people.
He said: “Let me start by thanking you, especially for these short prayers to welcome me back to the Governor’s Office in Oyo State.
“I want to thank you for cooperating with the Acting Governor. One thing we have demonstrated in Oyo State is that we don’t have strong men but a strong team.
“For over three weeks, the people of Oyo State did not feel my absence or any gap. Everything that has to do with governance went on seamlessly.
“So, we know that in Oyo State, we have selected a very strong team for the state and we have been able to demonstrate this.
“I want to specially thank all of you for your support. And for the people of the state, let me state it clearly that we will work for you until the last minute of the last day in the tenure of this administration.
“People thought politics is in the air and we should be politicking. Yes, we are politicking, but we are also doing the work that the people of Oyo State have given to us, and we will continue with the work.
“Also, I want to encourage everyone of us that it is not about the positions we have occupied as individuals, but what we are contributing to the development of our state. Actors, players will come and go, but our state will remain.
“Now, I am re-energised and I will be driving people real hard until my energy level drops again.
“But if my energy level is not going to drop, then we will drive ourselves down until this administration is given a fresh mandate.
“So, I want to thank the deputy governor for your commitment, responsibilities and loyalty. We should have been doing this from the beginning, but it is better late than never.
“So, I thank you and look forward to us working closely together in this tenure and working hard again together in the next tenure.
“One revelation from all of these is, I never went on holiday for three years, but in the next administration, it will be a yearly thing.”
Lawal had thanked the governor for the trust he had in him to make him acting governor, saying he would never forget the gesture.
Lawal, who stated that the responsibilities of governing Oyo State were enormous and daunting, praised Governor Makinde for the good job he had been doing over the last three years, saying he (Lawal) could now return the responsibilities back to the governor.
“We thank God for bringing our boss back safe and sound. Your Excellency, you are heartily welcome by us and, on behalf of everybody, we appreciate you. We love and adore you.”