A former Head of Service in Oyo State, Ebenezer Okebukola, has said that one of the secrets of Governor Seyi Makinde’s success is his ability to connect with the people of the state, adding that this has fostered peace in the state.

Okebukola, who served as permanent secretary in eight different ministries before becoming the Head of Service, disclosed this in an interview with journalists.

Okebukola said, “Look at the case of Aleshinloye Market that caught fire a while ago. Some of the traders were agitating when they learnt that they were going to bring a developer that might not even allocate the shops to them later. I think a few days later, the governor went to them, spoke with them assuaged them and gave them some succor and they were happy. So, there was peace. The governor has a way of connecting with the people to assuage them and to make sure that things are going normally.”

The former Head of Service lauded Governor Makinde for paying salaries and promoting civil servants regularly, noting that this would encourage them to give their best to the state.

Underscoring the importance of regular payment of salaries to workers, Okebukola said, “Civil servants are the instruments of policy implementation. If your instruments are not properly sharpened, you can’t get the best from them. By paying them as and when due, you are preparing them to do their work optimally.”

He added that the government should also ensure that civil servants are trained and retrained to enhance their knowledge of the job, noting that this would bring out their best.

“By paying salaries regularly, His Excellency is enhancing the economy of the state; the civil servants will get their salaries and go to the market to buy foodstuffs and do so many other things. By so doing, they redistribute the wealth of the state.”

Okebukola lauded Governor Makinde for his humility: “He respects his predecessors and does not abandon projects embarked upon by his predecessors.

The retired Head of Service also praised Makinde for transforming Fasola Farm Estate into an industrial hub.
He said, “When I started as a young officer, I was posted to Fasola Farm Estate from the Ministry of Agriculture.

That time, we had a poultry investigation centre, mechanisation centre and others. But over the years, the place became moribund. Now, the governor has revived the place and has turned it into an industrial hub with diverse projects that would enhance food security even within the region. That is very remarkable.”

He also lauded Makinde for infrastructural development projects in the state, citing the Ladoke Akintola Airport upgrade and road construction across the state.