Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has emerged Ripples Nigeria Governor of the year 2019.
The Oyo State Governor emerged after a painstaking analysis of the performances of Nigerian governors based on a monthly Nigerian Governors Ranking that started in August 2019.
The Oyo State Governor emerged in the Top 5 Governors list four of the five months the ranking was conducted, making him the most top five-ranked governor in the country.
With notable steps in advancing education, transparency, anti-corruption, internal security, constructive engagement with the people, and responsive governance, Governor Makinde made repeated appearances on the rankings.
In setting up its agenda in August 2019, the Editorial Board of Ripples Nigeria had noted, among others, that a monthly ranking of Nigerian governors had become necessary to advance the cause of good governance in Nigeria. It promised to hold leaders, especially elected ones, accountable on behalf of the people.
It also reckoned that, though governance remained a daunting task, some helmsmen had shown exceptional capacity, even in the face of lean resources, to better their societies while others had appeared as laggards.
The Board also noted that, through these special publications, it would engender a competitive spirit between and among the governors and ultimately drive our nation toward the path of lifting its citizens from abject poverty to prosperity.
The rankings have two categories —Top 5 and Bottom 5. Makinde beat close contenders such as Governor Bello Mattawale of Zamfara State, Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to the overall first position.