…… Makinde’s Model Can Rebuild Nigeria From The Grassroots
The Deputy Director of GSM Advocates, Bashorun Saintabey, has said Governor Seyi Makinde is on a mission to reset Nigeria, and that the evidence of that mission is already visible in the projects and policies being executed across Oyo State.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Saturday, Saintabey said the Makinde administration has demonstrated that governance can deliver tangible results when it is guided by planning, data and accountability. He noted that in the last seven years, the state has moved from promises to visible infrastructure, improved health and education services, and deliberate investments in agriculture and the economy.
“Governor Seyi Makinde is on the mission to reset Nigeria, and the evidence is widely visible with his good work in Oyo State,” Saintabey said. “We are not talking about what will be done tomorrow. We are talking about roads that have been completed, hospitals that have been upgraded, schools that have been renovated, and jobs that young people are doing today.”
He pointed to the Ibadan Circular Road as one of the clearest examples of the administration’s long-term vision. According to him, the 110-kilometer road project, which previous governments had only discussed, is now progressing in phases and is already opening new corridors for housing, commerce and agriculture around the city. He also cited the completion of the Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road, the expansion of the Challenge-Orita Challenge axis, and the ongoing construction of rural roads linking more than 300 farming communities to markets.
In the health sector, Saintabey said the government has upgraded and equipped over 200 Primary Healthcare Centres to Level 2 standard across the 33 local governments, and has recruited thousands of doctors, nurses and other health workers. He said the goal was to ensure that residents can access quality care without having to travel long distances to the city center.
On education, he noted the recruitment of more than 7,000 teachers, the renovation of public schools, and the distribution of free textbooks and exercise books to pupils. He described education as the foundation of the administration’s development agenda and said the investments were already improving learning outcomes in public schools.
Saintabey also highlighted the administration’s focus on the economy, particularly agriculture. He mentioned the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, the development of farm estates, and support for smallholder farmers as part of efforts to create jobs and boost food production. He added that the Omituntun Mass Transit buses have helped reduce transportation costs for residents while creating employment for drivers and operators.
According to him, what makes the Oyo model different is the emphasis on fairness and spread of projects. He said the government has ensured that development is not concentrated in one part of the state but is distributed across all three senatorial districts and 33 local governments.
“Resetting Nigeria will not come from slogans or big grammar. It will come from leaders who can show results first in their states,” he said. “This is the Makinde Doctrine: plan with data, invest in infrastructure, put people first, and be accountable. If this can be replicated in 36 states, Nigeria will be reset within one tenure.”
Saintabey said GSM Advocates will begin a nationwide engagement to share the Oyo experience and to mobilize support for performance-based leadership ahead of 2027. He urged Nigerians to look beyond party, tribe and religion and to judge leaders by their track record.
“When you see results, you don’t need propaganda to sell it. The work in Oyo is speaking for itself, and it is speaking loudly,” he added.
Governor Makinde, who is in his second term, has consistently said his administration is focused on building sustainable infrastructure in road, health, education and agribusiness that will outlive his tenure. Government officials say work continues on several ongoing projects across the state with the aim of ensuring that the benefits of governance reach every community.
Political observers note that endorsements like this have continued to fuel discussions about the governor’s possible role in national politics going forward.
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