Governor Seyi Makinde has promised to renovate the entire Oyo State Government House building including its Church and Mosque and other structures on the premises in the coming year.
This is just as the governor promised to pay civil servants in the state a 13th-month salary before the new year Westerndailynews reports.
The governor gave these assurances while speaking at the 2023 Christmas Carol Service with the theme “Unto Us A Child Is Born” held at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
The service gave the state another opportunity to thank God for His mercies and faithfulness this year even as the governor said: “though it has been a tough year economically.”
In his words: “There is a vision from one of you about the renovation of Government House church and mosque as a matter of top priority so that Oyo State can even become more prosperous. I have reflected on it and I want to say it publicly that work will start on the church and mosque as soon as we resume from the holidays. Not only that, the entire Government House will be rebuilt.”
Governor Makinde, who sympathizes with the plights of the masses on the current economic conditions occasioned by the removal of the petrol subsidy and the dollarisation of the economy, however, expressed optimism that the challenges would fizzle out with the year 2023.
”It has been a challenging period for us as a country, the high price of fuel and also the floating of the dollar has adversely affected the country’s economy
“This time will come and go, the tough people will wade through, all the economic challenges we are facing, by the power of God, will go with this year. The year 2024 will be a new beginning and indeed, a happy and prosperous year”, he said
Earlier in his exhortation, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba (JP) urged Nigerians to see Christmas beyond Merrymaking speak to their conscience and return to God so that the coming of Jesus Christ to the world will not be in vain.
He also admonished the people to join hands with the government of the day in moving the country forward saying “better days are coming”.
