By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State on Sunday conducted its governorship primary election with Engineer Seyi Makinde emerging as the PDP governorship candidate in the state for the 2019 general elections.
At the governorship primary election held at the main bowl of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan conducted by the PDP election committee from Abuja and witnessed by INEC officials, Engineer Makinde polled 2,770 votes to defeat Senator Ayo Adeseun who scored 21 votes.
It was jubilation galore at the venue of the primary election as Engineer Makinde was announced winner of the election and the governorship candidate of the party for the 2019 general election in Oyo State.
In his acceptance speech, entitled “Beyond Politics”, the PDP governorship candidate said if voted into power as the next governor of Oyo state, his administration would ensure good governance which he said ” is putting people at the centre of development”.
Engineer Makinde stressed that “it is common knowledge that good governance is a function of effective public policy”, saying, however, “public policy effectiveness is judged by the extent to which the chosen solution eliminates the problem which triggered the policy intervention in the first place”
“With all sense of humility, I know we are capable of walking the talk, we have the ability to solve the myraids of challenges that daily confront our people, particularly the vulnerable citizens whose numbers as I speak, have continued to increase in frightening proportions especially in the past seven and half years”he said.
Engineer Makinde said as a result of the myraids of challenges that daily confront the people of Oyo state, ” we have resolved to intervene in five strategic areas of agriculture, education, health, infrastructure and security in other to make meaningful impact in the lives of Oyo state citizens within the shortest possible period.
” We have resolved to intervene in five strategic areas of agriculture, education, health, infrastructure and security in other to make meaningful impact in the lives of Oyo state citizens within the shortest possible period. This is because governance, especially in our society where there is little or no social security must have a human face”.
Speaking further, the PDP governorship candidate lamented that “Oyo state resources have been badly managed in the past seven years, “
“With an average of N1.8billion from IGR every month and a record debt profile of over N130billion, it is not asking for too much for government to have eliminated the preponderance of the debt owed particularly to the vulnerable citizens. This has necessitated the need to formulate strategies to improve the revenue base of Oyo state using innovative approach that will not affect the welfare of the citizenry or discourage investors”
He the solicited the support of all the PDP members in the state, saying, “in order for all these plans to become a reality, we require the support of all party members in the forthcoming gubernatorial election..
“Together, we can win the election and give the long suffering people of our dear Oyo state the responsibility and responsive governance that they desire”.
