Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde has said he is not troubled by the insults and death wishes directed at him over the ongoing 110 kilometre Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road Project.
He said such reactions are part of leadership and will not stop the work his administration has set out to do.
Makinde spoke on Monday while presenting the 2026 Budget Proposal to the House of Assembly.
He announced that he will begin meeting with residents affected by the project on Wednesday to listen to their concerns and consider all possible options including compensation and resettlement.
He said, “When I took up this job, I envisaged situations like this. You did not come beg me to become the governor. I came out to say I wanted to do something good for Oyo State.”
Makinde added, “We acknowledge that progress must be people-centered. And we remain committed to ensuring that development remains fair, humane, and inclusive. So, I will honour the promise that I made to visit, to listen and to explore all possibilities including resettlement, in addition to adequate compensation. I will start this week.”
He stated that he would be at Ologuneru on Wednesday as part of the engagement.
He also addressed claims about land acquisition on the road project, saying his administration did not acquire any land.
He said, “I was forced to release from the archive a document that shows adverts in the Nigerian Tribune newspaper of November 24th, 2018, which showed that the state government at that time, acquired 500 metres on the right and 500 metres on the left. On November 24th, 2018, was I the governor then?”
Makinde described the project as central to the state’s economic vision. “The Circular Road is not just about connectivity; it is about equity, growth, and shared prosperity,” he said.
The governor warned political actors against exploiting the situation. “If some people think they should attack Seyi Makinde and politicise this thing, maybe the people will vote for them, I can tell you that Oyo State people are wiser,” he said.
He also reminded residents that his tenure has entered its final stretch. “For me, in about 18 months, I will be out of here. I have started our preparation for transition. In 2027, other players will be here. The next set of leaders, I can only prop them up, expose them, encourage them; Oyo State people will be the ultimate deciders.”
Speaking on governance reforms, Makinde said, “Our focus has been to shift towards institutional legacies, ensuring that governance is system-based, not personality-based. In Oyo State, we don’t want strong men, we want strong institutions, and we have created some of those; including OYACA and the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.”
He said the state cannot depend on allocations alone and must build an economy driven by productivity. “They are talking about the Circular Road and all of that. We need industries. Our children are coming out of school; we need commercial solid minerals exploration in Oyo State. Did the increase come from being productive? Well, Oyo State is moving from a consumptive economy now to a productive one.”
Makinde assured residents that the administration remains committed to their welfare. “We have not failed you in over six years and we will not fail you now. You have stood firm through difficult times. You have trusted the process and believed in the vision. We are not a government that repays good with bad. Together, we will continue to grow, innovate and prosper,” he said.
