Residents across the five zones of Oyo State have continued to shower praises on Governor Seyi Makinde, saying if the state had consistently had a governor like him since 1999, many people would not have needed to relocate to Lagos in search of greener pastures. From Iwajowa to Ogbomoso, from Idere to Ona Ara, from Idi-Arere to Ilora, the message is the same. Oyo State is now becoming a place where people can find opportunities and build their dreams at home.
In Iwajowa, Mr. Adewale Ogundele said the governor’s attention to Oke-Ogun has changed the narrative for the entire zone. He said before now, youths in Iwajowa were running to Lagos to do conductor work, bricklaying and other menial jobs just to survive. Today, with better roads and support for agribusiness, many are staying back to farm, trade and do business. He added that if Oyo had a Makinde since 1999, Iwajowa would have grown into a major city on its own, and its sons and daughters would not have needed to leave.
In Okeho, Mrs. Funmilayo Adebayo said women traders no longer need to travel far to sell their goods or struggle to survive. She said the roads are better, the markets are working and the environment for business has improved. A woman in Okeho can now build her dream here without running to Lagos, she said, adding that many women who once hawked in Lagos are now back home doing thriving businesses.
In Idere in Ibarapa, Alhaji Musa Adeyemi said farmers in the area now see farming as a real business and not just a struggle. He said Makinde has opened rural roads and supported farmers, making it easy to move cassava, maize and other farm produce to the market. Because of this, children in Idere are no longer forced to leave the town to survive, and farming families are beginning to prosper.
In Igangan, also in Ibarapa, Mr. Sunday Ojo said improved security and infrastructure have brought peace and confidence back to the community. He said people who left Igangan years ago are now returning to rebuild their lives and businesses. That is what good governance does, he said, because when a community is safe and has good roads, people will stay and invest.
In Ogbomoso, Chief Rasheed Adegoke said the zone has felt the impact of the governor in education, infrastructure and youth empowerment. He said Ogbomoso youths now have hope that they can succeed at home. If we had this kind of leadership since 1999, Ogbomoso would have produced more industries and jobs, and our people would not have filled Lagos in search of work, he said. He added that parents in Ogbomoso are now encouraging their children to stay, learn a skill and build a future in Oyo State.
Mrs. Bisi Olaniyan who lives in Ona Ara said the transformation in Ibadan is visible in every corner. From Ona Ara to the city centre, roads, schools and hospitals are working. People are building houses in Ona Ara now instead of struggling to pay rent in Lagos, she said. She described the governor as a leader who understands the needs of the common man and works to meet them.
In Idi-Arere in Ibadan, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal said traders in the area are happy with the business-friendly environment created by the Makinde administration. He said in Idi-Arere, business is moving, customers are coming and traders are smiling. He thanked the governor for making Ibadan a place where a common man can dream and succeed, and for giving traders the confidence to expand their businesses.
In Ajaawa in Oyo, Mr. Femi Olatunde said the people of Oyo zone feel included in the development of the state. He said Ajaawa is no longer forgotten, as the community now enjoys better roads and improved schools. Our youths can stay and work here, he said, instead of running to Lagos to look for what they can now find at home. He added that the sense of belonging in Oyo zone has grown under Makinde.
In Ilora in Oyo town, Mrs. Aisha Bello said the road expansion and development projects have opened up the town and brought new life to the community. She said Ilora is growing, with new shops, houses and businesses springing up. People who went to Lagos years ago are now coming back to build, she said, describing it as the Makinde effect. She said Ilora residents are proud to be part of a state that is moving forward.
Mr. Tunde Alabi from Iganna said the governor has shown that Oyo State can be a land of opportunity for everyone. He said if Oyo had a Makinde since 1999, nobody would have needed to run to Lagos. We would have built Lagos here in Oyo, he said, because the state has the land, the people and the resources to become great. All it needed was the right leadership.
Residents across the zones agreed that Lagos became a destination for Oyo indigenes because opportunities were scarce at home. For years, young men and women left their towns and villages in search of jobs, education and a better life. Today, they say the reverse is gradually happening, with Oyo becoming a destination for investment, business and dreams. They urged the governor to sustain his development strides, describing his administration as purposeful, inclusive and people-centered.
