The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has congratulated Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on his re-election for second term.
The monarch described Makinde’s victory in Saturday’s governorship election as a reward for his keeping faith with his covenant with the people of the state.
Makinde, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled 563,756 votes to defeat his strongest contender, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressive Congress, who scored 256,685 votes, while Adebayo Adelabu of Accord Party scored 38,357 votes.
The Olubadan, in a statement by his personal assistant, Oladele Ogunsola, on Sunday, said Makinde must see his re-election as a call to do more for the state.
He said, “There’s always the tendency for a second timer to be lethargic because there’s nothing to aspire to again, at least at the state level; but I appeal to you to see the new mandate as a call to do more in terms of service delivery.
“The confidence reposed in you by the people by voting you in is hinged on hope for more dividends of democracy by your government. In your inner recess, I implore you to cast your mind back to some of the issues raised as criticisms by your opponents during the electioneering campaigns and do something about them. Not all of them were political propaganda or mere attempts to demarket you and your administration, but very germane and crucial to good governance.
“Let the generality of the people of the state remain your focus in the emerging new dispensation and in doing that, pay less emphasis on party politics. Keep open arms and embrace all for the overall growth and development of the state. You can’t do all, but, let it be said of you at the end of another four years that you did your possible best and let the people of the state remain proud of the choice made in you.”
