Politics
Oyo APC lacks knowledge of good governance – PDP
The Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop celebrating the maladministration represented by the immediate past government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The party in a statement on Sunday, which was signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, said that APC in Oyo State was a party of individuals with little or no knowledge of what good governance entails, noting that in the last eight months, every right-thinking resident of Oyo State has been full of praises for the well-thought-out policies and programmes of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
According to the PDP, Oyo State under Governor Makinde has clearly prioritised security, health, education and economic expansion through agriculture, a focus that has brought positive telling effects on the State.
“Every month, starting from the well-known GSM date, Makinde’s government injects at least N8billion into the State’s economy, something that has brought hope to all and sundry. This is clearly a departure from the despair, desperation and squalor, which characterised life and living in Oyo State under the APC government,” the PDP stated.
It added that Governor Makinde has “begun the journey towards setting Oyo State on the path to true greatness,” adding that “we are fully aware that the APC has a polluted idea of the true meaning of good governance, but never believed that such ignorance would be displayed in the public space.
“They are only seeking to pollute the public space with their corrupted view of good governance by asking Governor Makinde to learn from former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was roundly rejected by the people of Oyo State for being a huge disappointment in governance and human relations.”
The PDP maintained that the introduction of free and qualitative education policy in public schools; focus on building infrastructure that will target the economic expansion; full and scientific approach to the Security of the state through the procurement of equipment and security gadgets; as well as the Amotekun security initiative are clear testimonies to the globally acclaimed and world class service delivery launched in the State by Governor Makinde.
“The Governor’s 100 per cent commitment to the welfare of workers and residents through prompt payment of salaries and pensions are top notch policies of the PDP administration, which have placed Oyo State on the pantheons of good governance across the country and beyond,” the PDP stated.
The statement also informed that APC’s attack on Makinde was ill-intentioned and borne out of jealousy that the new Governor had, in only eight months, started recording landmark achievements that make the people rate his government better than that of his predecessor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
“Indeed, the songs on the lips of workers and residents of Oyo State just within 96 days of Seyi Makinde’s governance was to state that his achievements in just three months have outweighed the 96 months of Senator Ajimobi whose administration has no legacy to point at,” the PDP said.
The party added: “It is an indisputable fact that Ajimobi in eight years displayed crude cluelessness, unkind mindset and despite earning over N700 billion in federal allocations and internally generated revenues, have nothing to show to the people.
“He was happy jumping from one controversy to the other and amassing for himself, unmerited titles that attest to vain glorification. Is that the kind of person APC wants Makinde to learn from?
The statement further read: “Let us, however, tell them even though Governor Makinde has started with a blistering speed and has been delivering goodies all the way, the remaining months of his administration would witness further testimonials to good governance with the conclusion of arrangements for the construction of farm estates in Akufo and Eruwa and world class interchanges that would make Oyo State come to further global attention for positive mention.
“Makinde’s policy of free education and his administration’s focus on agriculture through the building of farm estates are similar to the programmes of the Pa Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige eras, which remained the hallmark of good governance in the South-West zone today.
“In Oyo state right now, we are proud to say we have a transformational leadership rather that the transactional predecessor who left a legacy of failed contracts and abandoned road projects as a result of mere consideration for ‘what is there for me’ rather than what is there for the state.”
The statement added: “Today, the Saki township road is in a mess because the APC government played politics with people’s lives by embarking on the project purely for campaign purposes. The Oyo and Ogbomoso township roads constructed by the APC government were not completed and also badly done and even the few roads the government constructed in Ibadan were done at inflated costs to the state. The inflated Mokola Flyover has failed to control the traffic logjam challenge in that axis. So, we ask, are these the good governance ideals the APC wants Makinde to learn from Ajimobi? Or is it how Ajimobi destroyed the order, peace and beauty known with Olubadan Chieftaincy by introducing self-serving and alien review that has created a mess for the throne?”
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Adeolu Akande, has made a fervent appeal to factions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to reconcile and unite ahead of the forthcoming local council election.
Addressing party chairmen and chairmanship candidates from the 10 local government areas of Oke Ogun zone, Akande emphasised the critical need for solidarity within the party ranks to secure victory in the elections scheduled for this month.
Highlighting the significance of unity within the party, the former Governor Ajimobi’s aide underscored that Oyo State is inherently an APC stronghold, but internal conflicts hampered the party’s performance in the previous election.
He urged members to set aside their differences and focus on the common goal of delivering a progressive government to the people of the state.
Speaking during the gathering in Otu, headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government area, Akande stressed the imperative of forgiveness and reconciliation, emphasising that the party’s success hinges on unity. He lauded the efforts of the national leadership in fostering reconciliation, urging members to embrace the spirit of unity.
As a gesture of support, the ex-NCC gaffer provided financial assistance amounting to N500,000 to each of the 10 local government areas to bolster their preparations for the upcoming April 27 election.
The event was attended by APC Chairmen and Chairmanship candidates from the Oke Ogun Zone, alongside 21 former local government chairmen, demonstrating a collective commitment to the party’s success in the forthcoming election.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state was in Ido town, headquarters of the Ido Local Government to campaign for himself on Monday.
Local Government Election have been slated for April 27 of this year and the Governor is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he is declared winner by OYSIEC.
Do I sound confusing? Definitely not.
Governor Makinde is the contestant for the position of Local Government Chairman in the 33 Local Governments in Oyo state.
Reason? The Governor doubles as the State’s Chief Executive as well as the de facto Chairman of the 33 Local Governments while the 33 clowns parading themselves as the Councils’helmsmen are just Chairmen de jure.
What the Yorubas call “Esin inu iwe”.
I will use two incidents that happened simultaneously today to prove what is already known and accepted by the general public, albeit, arguably.
While Governor Makinde was dancing to some Fuji music in Ido town during the campaign rally, the chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government, one Hon. Kehinde Akande was in a live debate at Fresh FM with the APC candidate, Dr. Abogun and his statements were quite revealing.
A direct question regarding his view about autonomy and independence of Local Governments was put to him by the moderator, Isaac Brown and his response leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
The fellow, sadly and slavishly said that he has no problems with the decision of the Governor (Seyi Makinde) to directly monitor the expenditures of the Local Governments, since, according to him, it was for the purpose of probity and accountability!
This was coming from the Chairman of one of the most populous if not the most populous in Oyo state.
Like his peers who have one time or the other appeared on Radio, he could not point to any tangible project done by him and why would he?
The Governor calls the shots.
This is just on a lighter note, Hon. Kehinde Akande can not correctly identify the collation centre for ward 12 in a Local Government where he had been chairman for almost four years.
That underline the level of redundancy of this fellows parading themselves as Council Chairmen and on whose sake Governor Makinde incurred billions of Naira as judgment debts.
Now, to Governor Makinde’s campaign in Ido.
Is it not interesting that the Governor was in Ido and he didn’t Commission any project done by the Local Government?
In the times of his predecessors, such occasions were used to Commission projects done by the Local Government Chairmen but what will Governor Makinde Commission?
Nothing.
Nothing, because all the projects he mentioned during the campaign rally like the Omi Adio – Ido Road and others were attached to the state Government, even though, the funds were that of the Local Government.
Similarly, all the projects he promised to embark upon in the coming months within the Local Government like the modernisation of the Omi Adio market are projects he will usurp as usual, using the Councils’funds.
If not for the fact that Governor Makinde requires some pliant individuals who will sign out the Councils’funds for him to expend, I bet, there won’t be Local Government Chairmen during his tenure.
A lot of examples abound to confirm Governor Makinde’s illegal usurpation of the functions of the Local Government Chairmen.
Akesan Market is another typical example.
The April 27 Local Government Election is between Governor Makinde as grand Chairman of the 33 Local Governments and the opposition political parties.
The 33 gentlemen flying the tickets for the PDP are just necessary proxies.
I will not dissipate energy on the Governor’s uncharitable boasts that the opposition should wait for another three years, when he would still be the Governor to conduct another election.
I will rather call on the people of the state to be united in removing the “Ajeles” he has foisted on the Local Governments.
Oyo state can not afford another three years of Governor Makinde’s mismanagement of the Local Government resources.
He has bled the state enough through over bloated contracts and debts.
All residents of the state should consider the April 27 Local Government Election as an opportunity to at least salvage the 33 Local Governments from the suffocating hold of the Governor.
Like I said earlier, Oyo state can not afford another three years of continual looting of the Local Governments through the proxies of the Governor.
One would wonder what business the Governor has in the ” modernisation” of Omi Adio market.
Maintenance of the market is purely the responsibility of the Local Government Chairman but under Governor Makinde, even the Parks and abattoirs are directly run by the Governor.
That is the reason why the Local Governments have become comatose.
They have no means of generating IGR as all avenues have been taken away from them by the Governor.
Now, you tell me, Isn’t Governor Makinde not the one contesting on April 27?
Sola Abegunde writes from Oyo State
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, faces a tumultuous time as members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, have suspended him.
It was announced by the Executive Council of Ganduje Ward, led by Haruna Gwanjo, during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
The suspension comes amidst lingering corruption allegations, notably surrounding a viral video from 2017 depicting Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe and stuffing them into his garments.
Despite Ganduje’s initial denial and maintenance of innocence, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) administration, under Governor Abba Yusuf, has reopened the case.
The Kano High Court is set to arraign Ganduje on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, on charges including bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds.
Mega Icon Magazine gathered that the allegations involve the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes. The State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, confirmed that Ganduje, along with his wife and six others, will face trial.
The Yusuf administration has vowed to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court, indicating the seriousness with which the case is being pursued.
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