72 journalists from all media houses across the Country under the aegis of the Nigerian Guild of Editors stormed Oyo State on the invitation of the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to tour the various infrastructural projects in State.
The morning began on a cheerful atmosphere at the Executive Chamber of the State Government at Agodi, Ibadan as Governor Seyi Makinde welcomed the editors.
Praising Governor Makinde for his quality leadership style while speaking on behalf of the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba, the Deputy President, Mrs Husseina Akila, described the Governor as a gender-friendly individual with the appointment of women into critical positions in his administration.
Thereafter, the governor took the visitors on a tour of some of the infrastructural projects in the State including the 11 megawatts alternative power project in the State, the ongoing 110km circular road project, the Omololu Olunloyo park, the 65km Ibadan-Iseyin road, among others.
On the circular road, the governor said by next year, his administration would have completed 70km out of the 110km stretch of the road.
He assured that by the end of his second term as Governor, his administration will hand over a roadmap for sustainable development of Oyo State beyond 2027 to the next administration to sustain the development drive for the State.
While touring the 65km Ibadan-Iseyin road, the governor said he would give $1,000 to any of the 72 Journalists if they find any pothole on the road.
They could not find any.
Recall, only last week, President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima, came to commission the 76.67km road that links Iseyin to Ogbomoso, making a total of 142km stretch of State road.
At the event, presidency said that history will be kind to the Governor of Oyo State.
At Fashola farm, the governor took the visitors on about 2km walk within the farm as they came in close contact with the reality of the various landmark investments in Agribusiness that quality governance has produced.
Obviously, what the governor is doing is to re-enact the potentials of the old Fashola farms which was established by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
According to the Director-General, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, OYSADA, Dr. Debo Akande, the Agribusiness template in Oyo State is currently being employed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, across many countries of the world.
Among prominent editors on the tour, an On-Air-Personality with AriseTV and a popular columnist, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that he has heard so much about the governor and was happy to have first hand experience of his enviable performance.
He said he was thoroughly impressed by all that they had seen.
While clamouring for more support of the people for the Seyi Makinde administration, the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba, disclosed that Makinde’s governance stands as a template of encouragement for other State governors.
Eze also said that he was surprised that the governor reads widely because in the cause of their discussion, he found out that the governor had read some of the books that he had too.
“I never knew that some governors still read,” he said.
The Guild of Editors President said that even he was surprised to see the quality of representation by members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors on the tour including names that are rare to find during state inspections such as the Managing Director, the Sun Newspapers, Onuoha Ukeh; the MD, Nigerian Tribune Group of Newspapers, Edward Dickson; the MD, ThisDay Newspapers, Eniola Bello; the MD, The Nation Newspapers, Victor Ifijeh; the MD, New Telegraph Newspapers, Ayo Aminu; Editor of the Guardian, Dr Femi Adekoya; Editor of The Punch, Dayo Oketola; Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Debo Abdullahi; Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Lagunju; Editor, Sunday Tribune, Shina Oladeinde; Editor, ThisDay on Saturday, Chima Obinna; Editor, Saturday Sun, Tope Adeboboye; Arise News AOP/Newspaper Columnist, Dr Reuben Abati; the General Manager, Channels Television, Ambrose Okoh; TVC AOP, Babajide Otitoju, and many more.