By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
Some Christian religious leaders in Oyo State, have assessed Gov. Seyi Makinde’s performance in the last one year, urging him to focus more on matters of public interest.
They stated this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, urged the governor to focus more on matters of public interest.
He also enjoined Makinde to be as fair as possible in dishing out privileges and favours, especially where religious bodies were concerned.
According to him, the governor should try as much as possible to resist undue pressure from whatever quarters.
“The interest of religious bodies is in the overall welfare and the common good of everybody. This is where the call for the return of schools to religious organisations still has a lot of merits.
“Oyo State, given its current position on the scale of performance in Nigeria today, needs that boost,” he said.
Badejo noted that the security situation in the state, which had looked quite commendable for many years, is at the moment quite worrisome.
“Criminality seems to be on the increase again in Oyo State, with kidnapping cases occurring in the last few weeks.
“Oke Ogun zone, in particular, surely needs more attention from government if it is not to jeopardise the good work that the governor has been doing,” he said.
The bishop also identified environmental sanitation as another area that needed serious attention, especially in and around the city of Ibadan.
“Township roads in some major towns across the state have begun to collapse and urgently need to be attended to, especially with the rains now here.
“The roads are bad, and what they will become with the heavy rains being expected can only be imagined.
“Having said all these however, Gov. Seyi Makinde deserves appreciation for his efforts. His aggressive work in road infrastructure is impressive.
“Clearly, nobody can correct in four years the deficit that had accumulated over the years.
“The same can be said for agriculture which is also receiving due attention, while education and payment of salaries and pension have also not been ignored.
“A governor has to somehow cater to a multiplicity of demands and interests, and these can also come from religious bodies,” he said.
To the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, however, there is a ‘systematic lukewarm attitude’ by the governor toward the Christian activities in the state, saying this is worrisome.
“As a Christian, one would have expected that justice, equity and fairness will be the governor’s watchword in dealing with issues of religion.
“Christians are never agitators but they are always on the side of peace and complacency, knowing full well that their time will come.
“So we Christians still believe that the governor still has enough time to do something tangible for the Body of Christ before the expiration of his tenure.
“But, we have the responsibility of keeping the peace and lifting the governor and his government to the throne of God for more wisdom and guidance to steer the ship of the state in the right direction,” Akinyemiju said.
The CAN chairman, however, commended the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises since May 29, 2023.
According to him, Makinde has been up and doing in the areas of workers’ welfare, road rehabilitation, waste management, socio-economic concerns of the people, maintenance of peace and security, among others.
The Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, said that Makinde had a good knowledge of the state, while Ibadan city, other big towns, villages and rural areas had been touched.
“The governor has constructed so many roads in Ibadan and its environs; he has also done a lot of roads in Oke Ogun and other areas in the state.
“Agricultural project is getting some attention, such that Fashola, a forgotten agricultural settlement in Oyo, is now back to life.
“Oke-Ogun, which had suffered development projects for decades, is now enjoying a network of good roads, while the Faculty of Agriculture of LAUTECH has been moved to Iseyin,” he said.
Abegunrin however, noted that that the education sector in the state had not received its deserved attention.
Also, the Chairman, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (Christian Wing), Rt. Rev. Demola Moradeyo, said that the state government had demonstrated love and passion for the Christian communities in the state.
“He (the governor) has been in touch with Christian religious leaders in Oyo State and he’s always ready to listen to our advice.
“He has also maintained a balanced relationship with the other faith,” he said.
In his own view, the Chairman of Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) in the state, Prophet Dele Alabi, said that Makinde had been trying his best to put things in order.
“The governor’s achievements are beyond imagination. We appreciate God for the good security work because it is when you have rest of mind that you can progress.
“Actually, we can see that everything is going on well,” Alabi said. (NAN)
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