Makinde plans 20-year devp agenda for Oyo

A two-day retreat for members of  Oyo State Executive Council  and senior aides ended at the weekend with Governor Seyi Makinde asserting readiness to put in place a strategic development plan for the state that will span 20 years.
Speaking during the event held at International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Gov Makinde bemoaned that the state, for many years, under previous administrations operated with short term considerations.
In light of this, Makinde, said his administration would  be bullish in implementing a development plan that will benefit the state, over a longer period of time.
Harping on the need for synergy between government officials and civil servants, he asserted his resolve to roll up his sleeves and do the hard work for successive administrations.
“We have been underachieving for many years. Administrations have come and gone. Yes, they did their best, but we have to set a high bar for ourselves.
“Within the shortest possible time, we have to put in place a strategic development plan for Oyo State.
“Administrations have come and gone but operated on ad-hoc basis, we will put in place a 15 to 20 year development plan for Oyo State. We will be bullish about our development plans.
The governor further clarified: “Of course, according to the mandate right now,, it is for four years. So, what I mean is, we have to put up a plan or vision in which successive administrations won’t really need to go back and do the hard work again. Of course, we will do the hard work, and I have a feeling that we used to have some authentic heroes amongst us here.
The governor urged his political aides and the top civil servants to work in harmony, adding that collective responsibility must be their watchword.
Governor Makinde, who promised that civil servants would be empowered to do their job, he also added that the government would demand accountability.
“But we are making a pact with you that the current administration will empower you. We will give you those responsibilities. We will give you the authority to carry them out but we demand from you accountability. I know that the pertinent question that is probably agitating your mind right now ist, will the system be fair to you?”