By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, reiterated that his administration would continue to appoint anyone that can support and add value to the state, irrespective of their political affiliations or state of origin.
The governor stated this while inaugurating the state’s Judicial Service Commission at the Executive Council Chambers, Office of the Executive Governor, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Those inaugurated are the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, who is the chairman of the Commission; Mrs M.O Abdulganiyu, the Secretary; while the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Barr Abiodun Aikomo; Hon Justice T.M Abdulganiyu; Barr Musibau Adetunji, Chief Joshua Abioye; Chief Moyosore Ajani and Barr Wahab Adedigba are members.
He charged them to contribute their quota to the development of the state through their service.
He said: “Today is quite special for me, because right in front of me, I have two of my teachers, who taught me in Primary 6; the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe and a member of the Judicial Service Commission being inaugurated, Chief Joshua Abioye.
“The bottom line really is that any state or any society will always get the kind of leadership it deserves. This is because leaders will not fall from heaven or come from Mars; they will emerge from within the society.
“So, if we have bad leaders, that is a reflection of our society. And, if we have to change the route of leadership, then we have to put in the necessary efforts required.
“These two teachers shaped the character that you see in front of you today. So, this is an opportunity for me to say thank you to the teachers.”
The governor equally explained that his government had chosen to always place merit and excellence above primordial sentiments and bigotry in its appointments, saying: “Also, a member of the commission that we are inaugurating today, I just met him for the first time. I don’t know if we have interacted before in any shape or form. But if I meet him outside of here, I wouldn’t recognise him.
“People came to me and said, ‘Oh, Barrister Adetunji has always been abusing us.’ That he went to court against the state government, and all of that. They said. ‘No, you cannot appoint him.’ And, after I sent the name to the House of Assembly, some people still came up to us and said, ‘Look, this person is not from Oyo but from Osun State’ and other things like that.
“I reflected on the complaints that people got and those that came to us. Nobody came to me to say he wasn’t competent. They were all whipping up certain sentiments. And, I said, ‘Since no one has said that this individual is not competent to occupy this position, it is okay.”
“I need to tell you that wherever we can find any talent that can add value to us as a state, I will go for such a person. So, I hereby, by the power vested in me, inaugurate the State Judicial Service Commission of Oyo State.”
