The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has alerted the public to watch out for a new threat to the nation’s democracy in Governor Seyi Makinde in view of his alleged renewed indecent practices in the polity, lack of respect for the rule of law and tenets of constitutional democracy as well as palpable spirited efforts to turn the Pacesetter state into his private fiefdom.
Gov. Makinde has, in recent times, come hard on the federal government on a number of issues which included removal of subsidy on imported petroleum products, financial autonomy to the third tier of government, end-bad-governance protests, N570b Economic Stimulus paid to the 36 states of the federation among others.
Oyo APC, in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, said that the rumoured presidential ambition of Gov. Makinde ahead of the 2027 general election was a distraction and an unreasonable venture being contemplated, by some opportunists, not only to play to the gallery but also to waste the scarce resources of the state.
“In the last 62 months, most segment and firmament of the Pacesetter state have had to suffer desecration, deprivation and abuse in the hands of Gov. Makinde who sees himself as a demi-god over and above everyone in the state. He started with the sack of elected local government council officials on the first day he came into office and with this, the governor overtly announced to the world he was here to subjugate the third tier of government in the state.
“The same Gov. Makinde ensured that the leadership of the state House of Assembly was arranged in such a way that the Legislative Arm would permanently be under his control. Also, he did not miss any opportunity to indicate that he would not be available for any wise counsel from those revered elders in the state as he kept echoing that he did not have any godfather. This aptly sent a warning to prominent leaders of thought, traditional rulers, eminent religious leaders among others to stay clear as he would never listen to them.
“He went ahead to muscle up the traditional institution either by altering the age-long succession arrangement in all the ancient towns and this resulted in unprecedented crisis in many towns which included; Eruwa, Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Igangan, Iseyin among others. In the case of Oyo, the same Gov. Makinde who ran to court to prevent the EFCC from acting on the award of a contract to produce several thousands of 60 leaves exercise books for public schools in Oyo state at the cost of N2,100 per copy is now mounting pressure on the same anti-graft body to prosecute some high chiefs (Oyomesis) on the allegations that they took a N15million from a contestant willing to emerge the next Alaafin of Oyo.
“Regrettably, Gov. Makinde’s penchant for circumventing the federal government’s efforts to ameliorate the suffering of the masses (including the good people of Oyo state) is so obvious that tongues are now wagging on what might have informed the actions of the governors in this regard. He picks holes in every policy of the federal government as he always tries to portray himself as having better mastery of governance whereas he has been thriving on deception, propaganda and blackmail since he came to office in 2019.
“As a matter of fact, the bold step taken by the administration of President Bola Tinubu on the issue of financial autonomy to the local government councils in the country has been adjudged the best thing to have happened to the country in recent times. So, any attempt by Makinde and his supporters to blackmail the federal government on the matter would fail. In the meantime, we call on the Makinde administration to account for the 1,419 metric tonnes of grains and the 20 trucks of rice received from the government at the centre on behalf of the masses in the state since the intended beneficiaries have been left in the lurch rather than get the relief packages.” Sadare added.
