We Won’t Make Empty Promises or Award Projects We Can’t Finish — Seyi Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has pledged that his administration will neither make empty promises nor award projects that are beyond its power to complete.

The Governor made this pledge at the Townhall meeting with traditional rulers and stakeholders in Saki on Monday.

Speaking at the meeting, the governor expressed his appreciation of Saki indigenes/residents for their continued support of his administration and urged them to be patient with the government regarding their unmet demands, promising to fulfil them eventually.

He stated that all their demands are being prioritized and that his administration is handling them one after the other so that they don’t bite off more than they can chew.

He said, “First, I want to use this medium to appreciate everyone for the support given to this administration. The government belongs to you. You elected us into office.”

“I appreciate all our religious leaders, the CAN, our Imams, and Alfas. I want to assure you that all your prayers for us are being answered.”

“All those road projects that you requested that we embark on and all the other demands, we will get on them one after the other because we don’t want to be an administration that will just make empty promises and award projects without finishing it.”

During the meeting, the Governor granted some of the requests tabled by the stakeholders and traditional leaders. As one of the granted requests, he assured the physically challenged that they would be given equal consideration and opportunity in the newly elected local government administration.


“Considering the requests you just made, let me start with the physically challenged. We gave you superb treatment at the just-concluded interim administration at the local level. In this new administration, your position is guaranteed.”


“The only request left is that you want to make sure that those to represent you aren’t handpicked but elected into office by you, the masses. That request is also granted.”


The Governor further addressed the request made by the stakeholders for the staffing of the Saki Specialist Hospital. He noted that the state is in short supply of medical personnel and that urgent steps are being taken to rectify the issue.

“I also heard your request as regards the Saki Specialist Hospital. It is a problem we are trying to solve throughout Oyo State.”


“Despite the large size of Oyo state, we only have 136 doctors in Oyo state. In primary health care, we only have 17 doctors.”

“Last week, I signed an executive order for the recruitment of 500 health workers.”

“So, when this recruitment is done, it will get to Saki and its environs.”

“I have also reached out to the NYSC coordinator and he said that they have 48 medical personnel and about 38 doctors. I instructed him to ensure that they are not posted anywhere. They will be posted to our hospitals in Oyo state.”

“So, let’s be patient. We already said that there should be one primary health centre in each ward and they must be standard, well-equipped and staffed.”

The Governor also addressed several requests such as streetlights for Saki traders, an international border market and more road projects in Saki and its environs.

“The traders, I also heard your request. Last week, the state got a delivery of 800 streetlights that will be delivered to our markets. The distribution will begin shortly. There will be streetlights in the markets and at the Palace of the Okere of Saki.”

“As regards the requests for the international border market, we need to fix the road to the market before we think of opening the market.”

“In Saki and its environ, we have the ongoing Saki-township Road, Saki-Ogboro-Igboho Road, the amount of money we’ve committed to both roads is not less than N15billion.”

“So, all those road projects that you requested that we embark on, we will get on them one after the other because we don’t want to be an administration that will just make empty promises and award projects without finishing it.”

“The road is supposed to be completed in 6 weeks but there is a new request from Kabiyesi that we extend the road by another 1.2km which has also been granted.”

“The road will be fixed and also solar-powered streetlights will be erected on the road.”

“Finally, throughout Oyo state, we are fixing 1,000km of rural roads under the Rural Access and Mobility Project, RAMP. In the 1000km, nothing less than 50-100km will be in Saki axis.”