Thanksgiving for Oyo State at 50: Reflections on Leadership, Gratitude, and Service
Today, 1st February, I joined my friend and brother, Governor Seyi Makinde, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State at a thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral of St Peter Anglican Church, Aremo, Ibadan. The gathering brought together people from across the state to offer thanks to God for five decades of shared history and progress.
I thanked Governor
@seyimakinde
for the opportunity to speak at the event. In my remarks at the church, I recalled that at the onset of his administration, he invited me to address the maiden Executive Council (EXCO) retreat, where we spent a full day exchanging ideas on governance and responsibility. I am pleased to note that the Governor has remained consistent in his approach. Beyond the visible infrastructure across the state, his performance is widely discussed and appreciated by Oyo people wherever they are.
I also commend the Governor for his insightful address at the service, particularly his emphasis on building strong institutions and strengthening teams rather than relying on individuals. His focus on continuity, systems, and shared responsibility reflects a statesmanlike vision and offers reassurance that the progress of Oyo State will be sustained beyond any single administration.
I thanked The Right Reverend Williams Oluwarotimi Aladekugbe, Bishop of Ibadan North, for his thoughtful sermon, which was both timely and profound, reminding us that thanksgiving is not merely a ritual but a moral discipline that nurtures humility, responsibility, and service to the common good.
Finally, I called on the people of Oyo State to continue to support the Governor and to pray that God will guide those in authority to work for the common good of the state and its people.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
