Makinde sworn-in as Oyo Governor, cancels school fees

The joy of the crowd that filled the ancient Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan, knew no bounds as they witnessed the inauguration of Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde and Engr Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan as the new governor and deputy governor of Oyo State.

The stadium was filled almost to capacity by 7am such that by the time the new governor arrived at around 10am, he was unable to get to the arena for about one hour. Security operatives had a herculean task of clearing the way for the governor.

The oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Muntar Abimbola around noon after which the new governor went round the stadium, waving to the cheering crowd.


Makinde, who was touched by the plight of teachers in the state declared, “I donate my entire salary to the Teachers Pension Fund”, stressing that he would not dwell on the past but would focus on the future for the benefit of the residents of the state.

The new governor, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the standard of education in the state and the fact that parents who were facing hardship were still being asked to pay N3,000 school fees per child, abolished the N3,000 school fees with immediate effect. “I am not happy that Oyo State which is a pacesetter state has over 400,000 children out of school. We want enrollment to go up. We want children out of the streets”, he added.