BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
Conversant and conscious of the legacies of the old western region with the provision of iconic projects many decades ago , Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Presidential Candidate of Allied People’s Movement, APM believed in ‘all walk and no play makes jerk a dull boy ‘ therefore the massive renovation of abandoned Lekan Salami Stadium that became a shadow of itself by the previous administrations after more than two decades became history .
The positive development restored confidence in sporting activities in oyo state spread across local government areas.
Having carried out massive renovation, local government areas was encouraged into replicating the idea that led to renovation of local government stadiums in the 33 area council’s.
This led to the full reactivation of sporting activities, through the restoration of various games both in the primary, secondary schools, and tertiary institutions that attracted young talents who had taken or built a career in various activities related to physical, youth and sports development.
The restoration of the legendary sporting activities made the state resumed participation in national youths sports, other national programs and resumption of state sporting activities, ranging from local leagues among local government areas to state level and continental features.
The state owned IICC shooting stars of Ibadan that was moribund with its activities paralysed due to previous governments negligence and lack of funding returned, both to the local league and continental features as was obtainable in the previous years.
Aside resumption to the local and continental league , the idea of creating wealth , employment opportunities that enabled the state improved on its gross domestic products , GDP, revenues, economic activities and wealth of experience made it a veritable ground towards building more talents .
This was also in addition to upgrading of sports and youth development facilities in the state to attract both local, foreign investors and investments.
Since sports remained one of the activities that sustained and encouraged unity locally , nationally and internationally, Engr Seyi Makinde did not relent on funding, encouragement and provision of needed manpower, which included trainers in various sporting activities by attracting officials locally and internationally.
The positive development by his administration in the last seven years has restored the dignity of the Liberty Stadium, sporting activities, economic and social activities in relation to sports development in oyo state.
Previously , the usual abandonment of the edifice, witnessed for many years was gradually restored with investments of billions through massive renovation of all needed facilities in the complex.
The massive investments by the Engr Seyi Makinde led administration reverted the multi billion edifice from the usual hideouts of criminal elements and activities, as well anti social engagements.
Aside sporting activities that has become the cynosure of the newly renovated Liberty Stadium in Ibadan , daily routine of physical exercises by both young ,intermediate and elderly ones becomes regular to keep the body fit now and always.
Government agencies, private conglomerates, individuals intermittently organize programs relating to sports activities to keep them fit after the hectic periods at work or their private endeavors.
The positive development has brought back not only the lost glory of the edifice, but both social, economic, physical fitness of the people of oyo state and beyond, reduced regular health challenges among residents of the state in all category.
With the success story recorded in oyo state through massive investment by the Engr Seyi Makinde led administration in the past seven years, no doubt , the regular mess been witnessed in the National Sports Commission, NSC, particularly the recent corruption ridden Nigeria Football Federation, NFF among many others in the Commission will be come a thing of the past, through a well thought out massive investments, innovations and reforms that will attract foreign and private investors to Nigeria.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF, National Publicity Secretary, Allied People’s Movement, APM.
