Nigeria @61: Governor Oyetola Says Nigeria Is Progressing, Not Stagnant
OSUN State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has commended Nigerians for their resilience and continued contributions to national development since independence.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during an interaction with journalists to mark his 67th birthday, the governor said Nigeria has made steady progress despite facing economic and security challenges.
Oyetola noted that although the country has not yet achieved all its early development goals, it is far from being stagnant.
“By any standard, we have moved. We may not be where we hoped to be as a nation, but we are not stagnant. Nigeria is making progress,” he said.
Optimism About the Nation’s Future
The governor expressed optimism that the current federal administration could still turn around the country’s fortunes and restore its lost glory.
He emphasized that challenges such as insecurity are global issues and not unique to Nigeria, adding that citizens should remain hopeful and united in nation-building.
“Security is a challenge, but it’s not peculiar to Nigeria. What matters is that we do not give up. I believe we are moving forward as a country,” Oyetola added.
Leadership and Financial Discipline in Osun
Speaking about his administration in Osun State, Governor Oyetola explained how his background in the private sector has helped him manage the state’s finances effectively.
He said his experience taught him the importance of setting priorities and ensuring that workers are paid promptly.
“There is no magic in financial management. It’s about defining priorities and getting them right,” he stated.
“As someone who came from the private sector, I understand the importance of paying workers on time. God has been kind, and we’ve managed our cash flow responsibly.”
Oyetola said his approach has allowed the state to meet its financial obligations and maintain stability despite economic constraints.
Gratitude and Personal Reflection
Reflecting on his 67th birthday, the governor expressed gratitude to God for good health and long life.
“I thank the Almighty God for sparing my life and granting me good health. I also appreciate my family for their support,” he said.
He added that turning 67 is a blessing and that he remains committed to serving his people with integrity and focus.
OSUN State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
OSUN State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has hailed Nigerians for their resilience and contributions to national development since independence, saying while Nigeria may not have attained some of its developmental projections at independence in 1960, the country is however not stagnant as it has made some incremental progress.
He expressed optimism that the current trajectory of governance at the federal level could turn around the fortunes of the country and restore its lost primacy.
Governor Oyetola spoke Thursday in Abuja at a brief interface with journalists on the occasion of his 67th birthday.
“I think by any standard, we have moved. We may not have attained the level that we are thinking of as a nation, I think we are moving. Comparing us with other nations that had attained the same independence as ours may not necessarily be too good enough because you are not too sure of what they have.
“We could do better given the level that we are now, particularly the efforts that have been put into running the affairs of the country by the present administration of President Muhamadu Buhari. I think we are moving. We are not stagnant.
“We are challenged. For instance, the issue of security is a big challenge but that is not only peculiar to Nigeria, we have the challenges in other parts of the world. But what is important is for you not to give up. I believe we are making progress, we may not be at the level which we are expecting as a nation but we are not stagnant. Nigeria is moving forward”, he stated.
On governance in his state and how he has been able to overcome the past challenge of meeting its financial obligations to workers, the governor said with his years of managing human and financial resources in the private sector, he has had no problem paying the salary of workers.
“There is no magic. It is a question of defining your priorities, getting them right. I also believe that workers deserve their pay. Don’t forget that I came from a private sector background. I employed people in my company. As a matter of policy, there was no time I didn’t pay their monthly salary. So, I decided that moving forward, I must of necessity make the payment of workers’ salaries a priority.
“God has been quite kind. I look at my cash flow and define my priorities right. So, there is no magic, it is a question of creativity and set your priorities right. There is no magic in finance. It is nothing extraordinary but my background has actually helped me to able to look at some of these issues and define what I need to do at any point in time,” he stated.
The governor also thanked God for his benevolence all through the years, saying he feels good at 67.
“First of all, I want to thank you, almighty God, for sparing my life over the years till to date and for giving me very good health. I must thank my family too for taking good care of me. I think is the grace of God, we should give the almighty God the glory for being able to attain 67. I am very healthy. I have no problem with my health. So we thank God,” Oyetola said.