‘You’re unable to rule Oyo fairly and justly, and you want to rule Nigeria,’ group challenges Makinde
Khalid ABRAHAM
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A socio – cultural group, Ogbomoso Development Initiative (ODI), has come hard on Oyo state governor Engr. Seyi Makinde, over report he is nursing the ambition to be president of Nigeria in 2027.
The group in a press release signed by its publicity secretary Benjamin Oyeleke and made available to ogbomosoinsightonline.com, noted that while it is a legitimate aspiration to seek to be president of Nigeria it wondered how a governor it posited failed to be fair and just to all component parts of his state will be able to rule a bigger constituency like Nigeria embedded with myriad complexities.
ODI condemned what it called the propensity of Governor Makinde to over prioritize Ibadan the state capital in developmental initiatives while other parts suffer neglect.
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“The news that Oyo state governor Engr Seyi Makinde is aspiring to lead Nigeria is a welcome development. It is within his legitimate right and he is qualified. But we wonder how he will be able to manage a complex entity like Nigeria, in view of the way he rules (not leads) Oyo state,” it is noted.
“His administration in Oyo state over centralizes development in Ibadan the state capital where he hails from while detrimentally neglecting other constituent parts of the state. That is a simple test he woefully fails. He has been unfair and unjust so far by ignoring the cries of people of other zones. If he doesn’t have a large heart as to spread developments commensurately at this level we wonder how he will rule at a bigger stage ”
The group added, “Truth be told, we are sceptical about his aspiration though the news should have created an excitement in the generality of the people of Oyo state. It is however being dismissed with a wave of the hand that someone who is ultra biased, unfair and unjust in a small thing, how will he perform if handed a bigger opportunity?”
It remarked the administration though recorded some landmark achievements highlighting these to include prioritizing of civil servants’ welfare characterized by prompt payment of salaries and other emoluments, regular promotion awards and so on; and construction of few intercity roads to improve connectivity.
It’s however stressed that beyond that, other zones in the state are neglected in terms of political patronage maintaining this underscores Governor Makinde’s chronic nepostic tendencies sort of.
“The Oyo state governor has not hidden his nepotism and prioritizing development of only a section of the state which is Ibadan. He flagrantly pursues this inequitable distribution of development without a care. He excessively favours Ibadan’s interest over other zones.
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“As the state capital, that is not unexpected, but when it becomes overly excessive it becomes a matter of concern. A visit to towns outside Ibadan will better reveal the rot in infrastructural situation of these areas marked by bad intra-township roads especially. We are well familiar with that of Ogbomoso, the city used to enjoy good well paved roads aside a good road network, orchestrated by its local governments. But today 98 percent of roads in the city is in a state of disrepair.
“This is because the local governments have become a shadow of themselves under Governor Makinde’s administration. The once vibrant councils are now prostrate because of the now outlawed joint account regime that got to its detestable peak under him. It is appalling that he diverts allocation meant for the development of 22 other local governments to the development of a zone. That is the simple way we can interpret what is happening.
“Or how can our councils be incapacitated in repairs of common culverts and bridges? How can they not be able to fix damaged roads not to talk of constructing new ones, or opening up new residential areas with good roads. Ogbomoso city hall has fallen since about eight months ago yet the local government cannot fix it because it has been deprived of its allocation. It is disgusting.
“Ogbomoso municipal cannot be said to have benefitted construction or rehabilitation of 5km road since the advent of this administration. And construction of new ones to cater for the ever expanding residential areas is zero percent. Then, go outside the municipal, to the other local governments in the zone i.e. Oriire, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa, both rehabilitations and new constructions are zero. This is unacceptable. He should realize that prioritizing zonal interests promote disunity.”
The group further stated, “You are committing billions of naira into constructing circular roads in Ibadan, revitalizing a federal airport in Ibadan, constructing and rehabilitating hundreds of roads in Ibadan, turning the state capital into a giant construction site while other zones suffer neglect, does Mr. Governor think that is fair in the face of pain from decayed roads in other constituent towns or does he think that will promote harmony?
“lf you can’t rule Oyo fairly and justly, if you promote disparities at home and unable to float a rule that benefits all citizens under your suzerainty, then there is a problem with your desire to rule the whole of Nigeria. Charity must begin at home.
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“We therefore demand that you run a government based on transparency, accountability, equitability and inclusiveness. Spread progress and development to other zones of the state. There is a 500m road in the heart of Ogbomoso that has become a death trap causing heavy duty vehicles to fall dangerously easily but despite the outcry from residents you showed no empathy towards our plight not to talk of helping to fix it. That is not a mark of great leadership.
“If what happened to Ogunlola Hall is enacted at Mapo Hall will it be left unattended to? You fiercely oppose financial autonomy for local governments, if that wish you advocated, that is maintenance of status quo in respect of local government administration sails through, it means other parts of Oyo state will have their development stagnated for the remainder of your rule. Because in your over five years of ruling their lots have plummeted.
“Your Excellency, initiate developments that will benefit the people of Ibarapa, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones too and we will all rally round your aspiration,” the group concluded
