A former Head of Service in Oyo State, Overseer (Dr.) Ebenezer Okebukola has said that one of the secrets to the success of Governor Seyi Makinde is his ability to connect well with the people of the state, adding that this has entrenched peace in the state.
Okebukola, who served as Permanent Secretary in eight different ministries before becoming the Head of Service, disclosed this in an interview with The People’s Verdict.
Buttressing his point, Okebukola said, “Look at the case of Aleshinloye Market that caught fire a while ago. Some of the traders were agitated when they learnt that the local government authorities were going to bring in a developer who might not even allocate the shops to them later. I think a few days later, the governor went to them, spoke with them, and assuaged their concerns, giving them some succour, and they were happy. So, there was peace. The governor has a way of connecting with the people to assuage them and to make sure that things are going normally.”
The former Head of Service lauded Governor Makinde for taking the matter of regular salary payments and the promotion of civil servants seriously, noting that the arrangement would encourage them to give their best to the state.
Underscoring the importance of regular payment of salaries to workers, Okebukola said “Civil servants are the instruments of policy implementation. If your instruments are not properly sharpened, you can’t get the best from them. By paying them as and when due, you are actually preparing them to do their work optimally.”
He added that the government should also ensure that civil servants are trained and retrained to enhance their knowledge of the job, noting that this would bring out the best in them.
“By paying salaries regularly, His Excellency is enhancing the economy of the state; the civil servants will get their salaries and go to the market to buy foodstuffs and do so many other things. By so doing, they redistribute the wealth of the state.”
Okebukola lauded Governor Makinde for his humility, saying, “He gives respect to his predecessors and does not abandon projects embarked upon by them. Look at the Ibadan Circular Road as an example. He met the project’s requirements and has continued with it, which will go a long way to enhancing the economy of Ibadan. Look at the Technical University, which was established during the tenure of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi; he is nurturing the university. He has even renamed it after the former governor. This is showing us that government is a continuum.”
The retired Head of Service also praised Makinde for the transformation of Fasola Farm Estate into an industrial hub.
He said, “When I started my job as a young officer, I was posted to Fasola Farm Estate from the Ministry of Agriculture. At that time, we had the Poultry Investigation Centre, the Mechanisation Centre, and others. But over the years, the place became moribund. Now, the governor has revitalised the area and transformed it into an industrial hub with diverse projects that will enhance food security within the region. That is very remarkable.”
While praising the governor for his infrastructure development, Okebukola said, “Look at the Ladoke Akintola Airport that he is upgrading now; that is going to enhance the economy of Oyo State in the immediate and distant future. You can also talk about the roads he is constructing. Look at the road between Ogbomoso and Iseyin; that road will link the Sokoto-Badagry highway. Look also at the township roads he is doing; he is fast-tracking the economy directly or indirectly.”
