The Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, has called on all Nigerians to embrace change in attitude and orientation toward the country and putting the interest of the country first.
The Governor gave the charge at the 59th Independence Day celebration, held at the Mainbowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Makinde, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, gave the assurance that his administration would continue to chart the course that would launch Oyo State into a investments with economic opportunity state and agricultural development.
“The present administration in Oyo state will continue to chart a course that will launch Oyo State into a land of great investments with economic opportunities and agricultural development, so that the State, in the not too distant future, will be a State of pride to us as before.
“We have a genuine desire to embark on aggressive strategy on mechanized agriculture and agricultural value chain that would not only provide employment for our people but one that would make Oyo State the Food Basket of the Nation,” Olaniyan said.
Disclosing that in the area of education, his administration had embarked on an intervention programme flagged-off with the distribution of textbooks and exercise books to all the schools in the State, Makinde appealed to citizens to work with his government to ensure a successful future for the children.
“In order to achieve a greater level of educational development, we must invest in all-round development of our opportunity for self-development, self-reliance and self-actualization by exposing them to trainings that will assist them to become patriotic and responsible citizens in the society,” Olaniyan noted.
The Governor used the opportunity of the occasion to solicit the cooperation of the people of the State with his government, promising that he would ensure that all parts of the State is given a sense of belonging in the scheme of things, across religious or political divides.
The event was attended by members of the State Executive Council; top government functionaries; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, who led other lawmakers; the State Chief Judge, Muntar Abimbola, who led other members of the Judiciary; commissioners; special advisers; heads of ministerial and extra ministerial boards; agencies and parastatals.
Others are traditional rulers, security heads, religious leaders, public and private schools, paramilitary organisations, trade groups and artisans.
The ceremony also had a large turnout of the members of the public despite the early morning shower and a heavy presence of security operatives.
