Gbadegesin: Daring The Limit Of Lies By Kazeem Olalekan Israel (GANI)

Assassinations are not only of one kind. Meanwhile, protecting ourselves against the obvious, we overlook the other kind; that of character. And character assassination is what the disgruntled elements in Oyo State, most especially those of the APC have been engaging in for a while now that election beckons. This is majorly aimed at demarketing the willingly-working Governor of Oyo State.

When my attention was drawn to the URL link of the article by one Muftau Gbadegesin in OyoInSight with headline, Makinde and the Revolts of the Youths, I did not bother to open the link immediately. I wanted to take my time to read the entire piece and give it utmost attention with the thought that there will be some areas in which I would have to really make recommendations for my Principal, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Engr. ‘Seun Fakorede who will escalate it and take the necessary action(s). But, at the end, I realised the writer was just being an inaccurate and inefficient opinion writer.

Going through the entire piece, I concluded the writer is just someone with a limitless capacity to lie, defraud, and distort. But, I owe it a duty to correct the aspects of misrepresentation and misinformation being dished out by Muftau Gbadegesin for the sake of record keeping and especially for young ones that have an interest in this administration.

In the meantime, it will suffice to say that the accounts rendered by Muftau Gbadegesin are not only falsified but a public disservice to the State. The writer’s account of YEAP, bursary, investment in youth development are grossly falsified and misleading. The correct position is that this administration has invested so much in youth development by all standards.

There is a local saying that “if one compares children, one may be beaten to death”. This perhaps best captures the sentiment the people of Oyo State evoke for the Governor. This sentiment is what scares people like Gbadegesin who expressed that the sentiments of the people towards this administration have blindfolded them (the people) from seeing the misdeeds of the Governor. Unfortunately for him, there was nowhere in the piece where he could explicitly pinpoint the misgivings of the Governor. Rather, he was making assumptions.

In the past 3 years, Seyi Makinde has displayed exceptional leadership as far as governance is concerned in Oyo State. And, his achievements across board, most especially in youth development, which was the target of Gbadegesin could easily contract the Governor as the model of good governance, if not in Nigeria, but Oyo State.

A. Concerning YEAP

Gbadegesin’s account of Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP) is full of inaccuracies. I am in the know that the State Governor launched YEAP training for over 1,000 youths at the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) Stadium, Saki as a self-development and empowerment initiative towards ensuring that youths in the State gain the needed skills, mentorship and startup support to contribute their individual and collective quotas to the social and economic well-being of themselves, their local community and the State as a whole.

The correct position is that the youths were taken to Nassarawa to undergo training, and the training was applauded by even the Oyo State Youth Parliament, which the writer claimed have been neglected by the State Government since their swearing-in. The writer assumed that the State Government has neglected the beneficiaries since they returned from Nassarawa and that the Government only paid lip-service to the programme. But, the correct position is that the funds to be disbursed to each person as a startup package by the State Government is under processing and will be duly disbursed as soon as it is approved. If not for mischief, I am sure the writer himself is aware of many processes funds have to go through before final approval.

B. Abandonment of Oyo State Youth Parliament

Gbadegesin’s claim that the Oyo State Government under Engr. Seyi Makinde FNSE has abandoned the members of the State Youth Parliament is yet another piece of hallucination. For record purpose, the State Government has been supporting every of the programmes of the Youth Parliament and the Government has also given them a space to thrive. This is clear on how the Parliament in one of their sittings passed a vote of confidence on the Governor as captured on The Nation Newspaper of 25th October, 2022.

C. Absence of Bursary for Oyo State Students

Gbadegesin’s claim that the administration of Engr. Seyi Makinde FNSE has failed to pay the bursary of students is another shameless and fraudulent fabrication. I must state categorically that payment of bursary to students is a mere piecemeal, not holistic. However, I feel that if not that the writer is suffering from self-induced myopia, he would acknowledge the increment of the State’s education budgetary allocation to 20% as against what was attainable in previous administration and the cancellation of #3,000 educational levy introduced by previous administration to public basic schools in the State.

Payment of bursary does not show equilibrium, so I don’t understand how anyone would expect a government to dwell on that. Rather, we should celebrate the Governor for pursuing the free education policy which was one of the enduring legacy of Obafemi Awolowo.

However, the Governor, from his own pocket, recently announced the payment of bursary to Oyo State indigenes who are students throughout the country; a programme he has been running even before he became Governor.

Also, at the International Students’ Day programme organised by the SA on Students’ Matters to the Governor, he (the Governor) has promised that the payment of bursary to Oyo State indigenes at the Nigerian law school is underway. And, the records are there to show that he did graciously approved the payment of #500,000 bursary to 120 Oyo State Students in the 2019/2020 backlog session of the Nigerian Law School and another #500,000 bursary to 233 Oyo State students in the Nigerian Law School for the 2020/2021 session. That is a welfarist Governor.

D. Youth Empowerment

To avoid distraction, I will go ahead to list some achievements of the State Government in youth empowerment but, before that, it is important I state that the Governor, in his goodwill and in exhibiting that he is a youth lover as against the opinion expressed by Gbadegesin, appointed Dr. ‘Seun Fakorede, MNSE, a youth-indeed, as Youth Commissioner, first of its kind. The Governor has also gone ahead to fill his administration with youths as either SAs or SSAs in various capacities. For record purpose, the State Governor approved;

Training of 100 youths in high demand tech skills in collaboration with Coven Works.

Organising a scholarship programme in collaboration with Utiva to train 22 outstanding youths in Tech-learning.

Collaborating with DAAD, a German Academic Exchange Service to train and mentor 100 youths in international academic cooperation.

Distribution of starter packs to 181 beneficiaries of the Skills for Job (S4J) which is one of the three components of the Youth Employment and Support Operation (YESSO).

Engaging 2,246 youths in public workfare through the Youth Employment Social and Support Operation (YESSO).

Sports;

Approval of financial reward for the Oyo State contingents to the 19th National Sports festival held in Abuja in 2018.

The payment of all outstanding allowances from 2016 to 2019 to the State’s Basketball team.

Approval of financial reward for the Oyo State contingents to the 20th National Sports festival held in Edo #Edo2020.

Remodelling of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba.

Remodeling of Olubadan stadium, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Remodelling of Durbar stadium, Oyo.

Remodeling of Soun township stadium, Iseyin.

Construction of Ebedi township stadium, Iseyin.

Construction of Saki township stadium, Saki.

Construction of Igboora stadium complex, Igboora.

In all, the opinion expressed by Gbadegesin in his piece constitute a gratuitous act of public disinformation or deliberate manipulation.

Kazeem Olalekan Israel (GANI) is the Media Aide to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Oyo State.

Lest We forget: With Makinde’s Reform, Pensioners Now Have A New Lease Of Life

by InsideOyo

July 7, 2026

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju On Tuesday, June 26, 2018 in Ibadan, the Oyo State High Court corridors were filled not with lawyers in crisp suits, but with weary and worried pensioners clutching faded documents. Their faces told stories of decades of service in classrooms and council offices, now overshadowed by years of waiting. It was the hearing of a suit filed by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, against the then governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and five other top officials of the state. The union had dragged the government before the High Court over ₦42.3 billion unpaid gratuities and pensions for retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners. The figure was staggering, but for the retirees, it was beyond mere numbers; it was meals they couldn’t afford, the medication they couldn’t access, the responsibilities they couldn’t meet, and the dignity they had lost. The union’s counsel, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), painted a grim picture of the pensioners’ plight before Justice Maruf Adegbola. He said: “Primary school teachers and local government pensioners are dying almost daily because they cannot afford medications for their health challenges.” The courtroom fell silent, the words echoing the desperation of thousands of senior citizens. Outside, the pensioners gathered in clusters, some leaning on walking sticks, others supported by their children. They spoke of promises broken, of agreements to pay arrears in instalments that never materialised. Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress stood with them, amplifying their cries for justice. Speaking at a press conference, the then state chairman of the union, Comrade Gbadegesin Akande, said the decision to institute a suit against the governor and others was a consequence of the roguish disposition of the government towards pensioners’ welfare, which resulted in the hoary heads, who had invested their youthful years in the service of the state, being subjected to agonising hardship and excruciating denigration. He explained that their recourse to the courts became a Hobson’s choice following the failure of the government to attend to the series of letters that had been written, endless pleas that had been made, and even countless protests that the union had embarked upon to get the government to address its plight. But despite their resort to litigation, not much changed for the pensioners; pensions were still owed and gratuities were still unpaid. At another press conference jointly addressed by the Secretary of the NUP, Comrade Segun Abatan, and the Secretary of the Association of Retired Primary School Teachers, Comrade Tunji Ogunwale, on May 4, 2019, the duo lamented the plight of pensioners and accused the outgoing administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of owing N62.5bn in pensions and gratuities. Speaking at the press conference, Comrade Ogunwale said: “Today, Oyo State Government is owing us N62.5billion. That is the amount of gratuities left unpaid. I am personally being owed 35 months pension arrears. They are owing some of us 60 months, some 55 and some 40 months. It varies from eight to 60 months. He (Governor Ajimobi) has never paid anybody any gratuity in the last eight years. If we had not gone to court, that means he would not have deemed it fit to pay a dime for eight years.” So, for pensioners in Oyo State, up to May 2019, life was rough, tough and torturous. It was marked by hardship, uncertainty, and indignity. Many retirees who had served the state faithfully for decades suddenly found themselves struggling to survive, as their pensions and gratuities were either delayed or paid in fractions. The government owed billions in arrears, and the elderly were left to bear the brunt of financial neglect. Their plight became a recurring headline, with protests and court actions reflecting the depth of their suffering. For many of these senior citizens already in the twilight of their lives, with children already grown and independent, there was no steady support system. So, feeding became a major challenge and getting money to buy the needed medication for their ailments became a nightmare. Many retirees sold property to survive, and some even died while waiting for what was theirs. The situation robbed many of them of the dignity and honour of old age. They were forced into begging or, for those of them who could muster enough strength, taking up menial jobs as security guards or gatemen. But when Comrades Abatan and Ogunwale held the press conference in May 2019, little did they realise how close the pensioners were to the change they had always wanted. On the 29th of that month, while being inaugurated as the Executive Governor of Oyo State for the first tenure at the iconic Liberty Stadium, Engineer Seyi Makinde made a promise that no longer would pensions be delayed or paid in percentages in the state. He then donated his entire salary as governor to the state for pension payment. He also promised to clear the backlog of unpaid gratuities. That marked the beginning of the end of the woes that retired civil servants had been subjected to over the years. Governor Makinde kept his promise to the pensioners and began the implementation immediately. While full pensions were paid alongside workers’ salaries, the governor, in 2019, approved the release of ₦500m monthly for gratuity. This was later increased to N1bn monthly in 2024, N1.5bn in 2025, and eventually N3bn monthly in January 2026. Till date, over N25bn gratuity backlog has been cleared with almost 5,000 retirees benefiting. Makinde did not stop at that. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor approved the free enrolment of pensioners into the State Health Insurance Scheme, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for senior citizens. The governor also raised the minimum pension in the state to N25,000. In addition, Governor Makinde approved that all pension increases since 2007, such as the 33 percent pension increase of 2010 and the consequential adjustment of 2019, be factored into the pensions of affected pensioners. With that, Oyo State pensioners became the highest paid in the country. The consistency in pension payment and commitment to outstanding gratuity defrayment have transformed the life of many a pensioner. For many retirees, the moment they received their gratuity was life-changing. Mrs Modupe Akinola, a retired teacher said, “The day I got my gratuity, I cried.” She added, “It was like a burden lifted off my shoulders. I could finally repair my leaking roof.” Equally transformative was the prompt payment of monthly pensions. Unlike what it was in the pre-Makinde era, retirees no longer have to wait for months to receive fractions of their pension. Salaries and pensions are paid side by side, restoring confidence and stability. “I can now buy my drugs without borrowing,” said Mr. Adewale Oladipo, a retired civil servant. “Before, I used to skip medication because I couldn’t afford it. That nearly killed me.” To express their gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his commitment to their welfare, members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Council, organised an appreciation rally in front of the Governor’s Office, Oyo State Government Secretariat in 2025. Speaking at the rally, the Secretary, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, said: "16 years before you took over the mantle of government in Oyo State, pensioners had no government that was sympathetic and empathetic to their plights. Gratuities were not paid as and when due, pensions of those times were withheld or paid in instalments and all entreaties to the governments fell on deaf ears, resulting in massive deaths of our members. "At one point, Oyo State pensioners were referred to as dead people and in actual fact, we were dying like fowls afflicted by Newcastle disease. When you contested for the first term, we just wanted anybody that would liberate us from the shackles of death and we went ahead to vote en masse for you. We did the same thing when you threw your hat into the ring for a second term....