Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has told his opponents threatening to send him packing from Government House in 2023 to calm down as he declared that it was too early to start the campaign.
The governor made during the celebration of the successful execution of Light-Up Oyo project, Phase One, which saw some major roads and streets in Ibadan come alive with lights deploying Smart LED street-lighting technology.
This is as he also kicked-off the second phase of the Light-Up Oyo Project, in Ogbomoso town.
“Let me sound this: If I will not seek re-election, I am sure that Oyo State will never, again, be in the hands of charlatans. So, calm down. It is even too early to start talking about a second term. Some parties that do not have even one councilor are saying that they will send me out of the Government House in 2023,” he said.
Governor Makinde said that the same opposition politicians who had been posturing about 2023 were roundly rejected by the people in 2019, stating that such politicians had nothing to offer by trying to distract him with talks about 2023.
He asked them to calm down, as, according to him, it was too early to start talking about second term.
Makinde stated that even if he decided not to seek re-election in 2023, the state would not fall into the hands of charlatans anymore.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor awarded the second phase of the Light-Up Oyo Project, at the cost of N28,360,975,609.76.
He said the project was expected to cover 223.8 kilometres of roads across all the zones of the state, commending the state’s Bureau of Public Procurement for saving the state over a billion Naira after it vetted the original proposal.
He added that the second phase of the Light-Up Oyo Project was expected to be completed within nine months, noting that the first phase in Ibadan was already at 87.5 per cent completion.
He stated that the phase one would have been 100 per cent completed but for the COVID-19 pandemic, which stopped a number of expatriates from making it to the country.
The project was awarded to Messrs Ledco Allied Enterprises, following what the government saw as an impeccable track record brought to bear in carrying out the Phase One of the project and the smart LED street lighting technology used for the project, which was first of its kind in Oyo State in terms of the magnitude of deployment, efficiency and financial commitment.
According to the Project Consultant, Governor Makinde’s recognition of security as the first requirement for development was the driving force behind the Light-Up Project, which, he noted, would, apart from providing illumination, have Wifi and CCTV cameras incorporated into it.
“We are sincerely very grateful for being part of this first class infrastructure that is being delivered to the good people of Oyo State. A couple of speakers earlier on also mentioned the importance of LAUTECH.
“For an organisation that has been employing engineers and graduates for over thirty years, I can stand here to say that graduates of LAUTECH have consistently delivered very, very well into the future. So, I must thank you, Excellency, for taking the big step required regarding LAUTECH, to ensure that LAUTECH continues to be great and great and greater into the future,” he said.
Governor Makinde stressed the importance of the Light-Up Oyo Project to the economic expansion and security enhancement agenda of his administration, stating that with the coming on board of the project, residents will feel more at peace to carry out economic activities in a more secure environment.
“It gives me great joy to be here today to flag-off the second phase of the Light-Up Oyo Project. The project is dear to this administration as it ties-in with two of the four pillars of our roadmap to accelerated development in Oyo State (2019-2023). And the two, which are tied together, are security and economy. The light-up will also do us good as far as security is concerned in this area.”