Makinde connects well with people, says Okebukola, retired HoS

A former Head of Service in Oyo State, Overseer (Dr) Ebenezer Okebukola, has said that one of the secrets of Governor Seyi Makinde’s success 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 agitating when they learnt that they (local government authorities) were going to bring a developer that 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 them and gave them some succor 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 payment of salaries and promotion of civil servants seriously, noting that this 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 his predecessors. Look at the Ibadan Circular Road as an example. He met the project and has continued with the project which will go a long way to enhance the economy of Ibadan. Look at the Technical University, which was started 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 job as a young officer, I was posted to Fasola Farm Estate from the Ministry of Agric. That time, we had Poultry Investigation Centre, Mechanisation Centre and others. But over the years, the place became moribund. Now, the governor has revived the place and has turned it into an industrial hub with diverse projects that would enhance food security even 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.”

Watch the interview.