Politics
Oyo coalition was fraught with deception, insincerity – ZLP
A group, ‘Concerned Members of Zenith Labour Party’ (ZLP) in Oyo state has described the coalition that helped Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to victory at the election in March as a sad footnote in the history of governance in the state, stressing that it was fraught with deception, insincerity and so much malfeasance.
It said the major political actors in the alliance went into it without knowing the intent of others.
The group also alleged that Governor Makinde became the beneficiary of a coalition he scuttled twice.
In a statement made available to Mega Icon Magazine in Ibadan, the state capital on Saturday by its Coordinator, Abimbola Atilola, the Concerned Members of ZLP recalled, “going down memory lane, the first attempt at an alliance was in 2015 when a meeting was held at Chief Bayo Akande’s residence.
“The aim was to work out an alliance between Engineer Seyi Makinde, Senator Teslim Folarin on the race for governorship of Oyo State.
“It is on record that the present governor of Oyo State, Makinde was the first person to pull out on the grounds that he can never step down for anybody hence he does not see any need to continue discussing with others.
“The talks eventually crashed. Makinde went on to contest in SDP, Folarin in PDP, Akala/Alli in Labour Party and Ladoja in Accord. The result is no more news. They all lost, but something was imperative. If all their votes had been pooled together, Ajimobi would not have won with 32% of the votes cast. The 68% would not have been wasted.
“With the background of the 2015 failure in mind, it was with great expectations that all opposition elements came together in 2017 to form a new PDP.
“it was the same Seyi Makinde who threw the first spanner in the wheels of progress of the new alliance. He went for a parallel congress and even things were resolved in some form of harmonization, he still continued to tinker with the Party Executives. His target was mainly the Ladoja and Alli groups. His actions, aided by a money hungry PDP National Executive resulted in the failure of the new alliance. The party splintered again. He was elated to have total control of what is left of PDP.
The statement continued, ” as fate will have it, the need for another alliance arose in 2019 towards the elections. It had become obvious that none of the opposition parties had enough muscles to defeat the ruling APC. There was need for other candidates to drop their ambitions, despite spending so much money and energy campaigning, in support of one candidate.
“Our Assembly candidates suffered serious electoral defeats as a result. Engineer Makinde became the beneficiary of a coalition he scuttled twice. The others were surprisingly magnanimous in ensuring the APC was shown the Red Card in Oyo State. They all worked hard and Seyi Makinde became governor”.
Reacting to the sharing formula, Atilola explained, “at a meeting in Makinde’s residence on Akala way, the new governor promised the opposition half of 14- man state executive thus; ADC 3, ZLP 2, Chief Ladoja 1and SDP 1.
“As at today there are 17 commissioners and ZLP does not have a single one in the list. The first signs of this attitude was in the convocation of the Transition Committee. In the first list, ZLP was not represented. After complaints, Governor Makinde gave the spurious excuse of not being aware of the list. He promised to rectify this in the supplementary sub-committees list, which fell flat too. ZLP was again short-changed”.
Despite the alleged breach of coalition agreement by Governor Makinde, the group wondered why its revered leader, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja has remained silent on this contentious issue in the face of what it described as ‘obvious slap on our faces’
It lamented further that while Ladoja’s cronies were celebrating with their new commissioner, the rest of ZLP members were leaking their wounds in their homes.
“The party’s flag bearer too, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli is shockingly complacent. This seems to lend some credence to the theory by some of the Governor’s men that they have been settled. It begins to look like true considering their silence and refusal to work in the interest of the teeming members of the party. Have we truly labored in vain like our traducers taunt us?
“If Seyi Makinde chooses to deal as such with us and our leaders are still feeling pretty, then it behoves on us to let the world know our fate.
“If the leaders were not settled we demand an explanation openly on why they have suddenly lost their voices and ability to negotiate. If they were, we demand to know who got how much and if it was worth our sweat and blood, or if it is big enough to cater for us in the next four years. The truth must be seen at times like this”, the statement added.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticized the alleged forceful conversion of public reading and learning facilities in Dugbe, Ibadan, into shopping malls and lock-up shops by the state government, describing the development as shameful, ill-conceived, and unacceptable.
In a statement released over the weekend by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the APC also raised concerns about the alleged sale of the modern motor park facility at Wema Area on New Ife Road, Ibadan, built during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
According to the party, the motor park has been sold to a pastor who presides over a popular church near the facility.
Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, were reportedly stunned when they noticed the sudden erection of massive private business complexes within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board.
The facilities, built by the defunct Western Region government, had served as public libraries and archives for decades, benefitting students, researchers, and tourists until recently.
“It is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.
“The implication is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by an administration that has done little to address the poor reading culture among young students.”
The APC expressed alarm over what it termed the erosion of public heritage under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, alleging that public properties are being sold or leased to private individuals and groups under questionable circumstances.
“How can a government wake up one day and convert public reading facilities and archives into lock-up shops in the name of making money, thereby subjecting society to the dangers of illiteracy and ignorance?” the statement queried.
The party also cited other instances of alleged mismanagement of public assets, including the concession of OYSADEP Guest House in Saki and Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the state’s socio-economic development.
“Sad enough, the ignoble activities of the governor and a few other characters around him as they involve mismanagement of land and other resources belonging to the state have paved the way for a surge in land grabbing cases in most parts of the state capital. There are many cases involving appointees of the governor, PDP lawmakers, local government officials, and party chieftains,” the statement added.
The APC called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in the state to demand accountability from the Makinde administration and halt what it described as the systematic erosion of public resources and heritage.
Over 300 constituents of Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State benefitted from a skill acquisition and empowerment programme organized by their representative in the National Assembly, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye.
The event, held at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Akobo, Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship by equipping participants with practical skills and financial support.
The programme focused on empowering youths, students, and unemployed graduates to become self-reliant. Each participant was provided with a certificate, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, an umbrella, and ₦100,000 as a startup grant to kickstart their businesses.
The tools and financial aid were designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable sources of income.
Participants received comprehensive training, gaining hands-on experience to ensure they could effectively utilize the tools provided. The POS machines were configured with the personal details of the recipients, ensuring proper use and discouraging unauthorized transfers.
Addressing the participants, Akinmoyede who is the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria/ Mexico Parliamentary Friendship enjoined the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity for their benefit by ensuring that they use the machines for the purpose it was meant for.
He added that all the machines have been configured with the documents of individual beneficiaries which will make it very difficult to transfer to another person.
In his goodwill message, the Oyo Central Senatorial chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji said comparing what the lawmaker has been doing in the area of dishing out empowerment and palliatives to his constituents, it is difficult to tag him a first-timer at the national assembly.
While appreciating Akinmoyede for his gesture at the event, former APC Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, and Hon. Akinbode Emmanuel said they were yet to discover the magic wand being used by the lawmaker for his constant and habitual empowerment programmes.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the end of the training, Afolabi Kuburat, Akinropo Akindotun, Ajala Abisade Iyabo, and Grace Anuoluwapo Ayinde lauded the lawmaker for giving them the opportunity to be self-reliant at this time when Nigerians are facing economic hardship.
The House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency Oyo State, Hon. Prince Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu has initiated another skill acquisition and capacity-building training for no fewer than 300 members of his constituency.
The initiative which is being organized in partnership with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan is part of a strategic effort by the lawmaker to foster rural development of cooperative for their economic emancipation and break the shackles of poverty so as to alleviate the impact of the high cost of living among the people in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency he represents.
The training programme is coming up on Monday 18th November, 2024 at Faith Joe Event Centre hall. Alegongo, Ibadan by 8.00am.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the lawmaker, Alimi Abdullahi stated that the capacity-building is designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurial skills with a view to building sustainable livelihoods and improve the quality of lives of the people of Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.
All the participants for the training are expected to be at the venue by 8am so as not to miss any part of the training.
