Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has sworn-in seven re-appointed commissioners as members of his cabinet. Six of the seven commissioners were sent back to their former ministries, except for Alhaja Faosat Sanni, who was redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties. She served last at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion.
Others and their portfolios are: Mr Akinola Ojo (Finance), Prof Dahud Sangodoyin (Works and Transport), Prof Oyelowo Oyewo (Justice and Attorney General), Mr Siju Lawal (Establishment and Training), Mr Temilolu Ashamu (Energy and Mineral Resources) and Chief Bayo Lawal (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters).
While speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi State Secretariat, Ibadan, Governor Makinde urged the commissioners to redouble their efforts to justify their reappointment, assuring that the composition of the whole cabinet would be completed in the next few weeks.
He stated: “There is a saying that ‘you don’t change a winning team,’ which is true but it is also important to reassess our team. In fact, regular assessment and reassessment are important to keep teams working optimally. So, to all seven of you here today, I will say welcome back. I hope you have used the time to get enough rest and you are fully reinvigorated now for the task ahead. You have just under two years left to make even greater marks in your various ministries.”
Makinde, who said his administration has become known for sustainable development in all sectors with no communities left behind, maintained that his administration would continue to take development to all the nooks and crannies of the state, affirming that his government had done massive works along the four pillars upon which the roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023 is built.
He noted: “Yes, we have done so much already but this is not the time to rest on our oars but think of more innovative ways to deliver on our mandate and positively touch the lives of the good people of Oyo State. When we complete our tenure in office, we will have set a new bar of governance in Oyo State and I believe that by that time, I would have one or two things to learn from you. You have taken a break and now you are back.”
The Governor asserted that the new commissioners would all need to play their part in ensuring that emphatic and service-oriented leadership becomes the norm in the state and, by extension, Nigeria because the whole country is watching, saying the people of Oyo State would no longer be dragged down to the days of mediocre leadership.
Makinde noted that he would hold the commissioners accountable to a very high standard because some of them would go beyond the current leadership role to something even higher, adding that he would continue to ask questions to ensure that his administration remains on the path to sustainable development in the state.
“I urge you to rededicate yourselves to your positions. We have presented your scorecard before the state House of Assembly, which was a prerequisite to your reappointment. I want you to look at that assessment and ask yourselves if that was indeed your best. Are there ways you can serve the people better? Ask yourselves how you want to be remembered. Revisit the answers quarterly and measure your activities against your goal. This is a sure way to self-correct any inadequacy you may notice,” Makinde advised the commissioners.
