The governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has extolled the virtues of his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, who presided over the affairs of the state as acting governor, saying that for over three weeks he went on vacation, the people of the state did not feel his absence or any gap.
He also noted that everything that had to do with governance went on seamlessly.
The governor, who lauded the sagacity of Barrister Lawal on Monday, September 5, 2022, on his resumption of office after vacation, noted that the state selected a very strong team, adding: “And we know that we are as strong as the weakest within that team.”
The governor spoke further: “One thing we have demonstrated in Oyo State is that we don’t have strong men or a strong man, we have a strong team. Because it is the team. I think two or three days after I left, I got a message from a service chief asking if he should continue to send security report to me or to him (the acting Governor) or to both of us. I told him to send it to him, copy me and if there’s any legacies, I will discuss with him but he’s hearing this for the first time.
“For over three weeks, Oyo State people didn’t feel my absence or any gap as anything that has to do with governance went on seamlessly. So we know that in Oyo State, we have selected a very strong team for the state and we know that we are as strong as the weakest within that team.
“I want to specially thank all of you for your support and I want to say this to our people; that we will work for you till the last day of this administration, not minding that there is politicking in the atmosphere. I want to encourage all of us also that it is not just the position that we occupy as individuals but we are contributing to the development of our state. Actors will come and go, players will come and go, but our state will remain. So I’m reenergised and driving on until my energy drops again or let me say until this administration is given a renewed mandate.
“I want to also specially thank the deputy governor for your commitment, show of responsibility and loyalty. We should have done this from the beginning but it is better late than never. I look forward to us working closely together till the end of this tenure and working hard again together in the next tenure.
“Finally, one revelation from all of these is that I never went on holiday for three years but next tenure, it will be a yearly thing.”
Earlier in his remarks, the deputy governor expressed appreciation to the governor for the confidence he reposed in him, adding that “I just took so many things for granted when I watched him perform, and sometimes when I opened my phone at night, I see him online on WhatsApp at 2am, 3am. I didn’t know it was such a serious task.
“In the last two weeks, I realised that it is not a child’s play. My wife even said to me that my eyes are getting swollen. And I said to her that if you observed, I had to call people at night, so how will my eyes not be swollen?
“Though your prayers have been answered, my own are more answered by the Almighty than yours because I have my principal and boss back hale and hearty. I must be happier than you all because the responsibility of carrying on the affairs of the state in these past weeks were enormous and I didn’t know.
“We thank God for bringing our boss back safe and sound. Your Excellency, you’re heartily welcome and I speak on behalf of everybody in Oyo State, not only appointees that are here, but on behalf of every citizen. We appreciate you, we love and adore you.
“You have given me that responsibility, you have given me so many rights and privileges which are yours and I have kept those rights and privileges and now I give it back to you. Welcome, our amiable governor Oluwaseyi Makinde, back to seat.”
Barrister Lawal expressed appreciation for the trust Governor Makinde invested in him through the powers of an acting governor, saying : “I have, by the virtue of that appointment, written in gold your gesture, magnanimity and trust in me. Now it suffices to say that His Excellency has been away on vacation and I believe he’s back reenergize. he went to restrategise and when I saw him this morning, I knew he enjoyed his vacation because he was full of smiles.”
