The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has stated that Governor Seyi Makinde needed to purge himself of alleged penchant for double standard, craftiness and insincerity for him to leave an enduring legacy at the completion of his tenure of office.
Oyo APC’s claim apparently came against the backdrop of controversies surrounding the recent amendment of Chieftaincy Act at the instance of Gov. Makinde who has now been reportedly conferred with more power and authority to control the traditional institution in the state.
In a statement issued at the weekend in Ibadan and made available to journalists by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC berated the state government over an alleged coercion of the 9th State House of Assembly to insert some new clauses into the existing Chieftaincy Act with a view to aiding the desire of Gov Makinde to turn a full despot who would have absolute power to act and satisfy his whims and caprices at will.
“As a political party made up of patriots and urbane people, we are of the opinion that no leader should seek absolute power over his subjects including the custodians of the traditional institution. What late Senator Abiola Ajimobi did in 2018 was purely to advance the cause of Ibadan – the Oyo state capital but the table was turned against him by some selfish political players. In a transparent manner, Ajimobi administration legally elevated all members of Olubadan-in-council and some Baale to Coronet-wearing Oba (junior to the Olubadan) but the unscrupulous elements claimed he acted wrong.
“Interestingly, the same Engr. Makinde (a PDP gubernatorial aspirant at that time) who led the rebellion against the process is not only trying to implement it now but has also taken the full advantage at his disposal to strip the Council of Obas and Chiefs of their statutory rights to ratify the eligibility of a validly nominated heir to be coronated as an Oba where a vacuum exists. As it stands now, only the governor can determine who becomes a new Oba in any part of the state and this implies that Eruwa, Igangan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Iseyin and other ancient towns must literally worship Gov. Makinde to have new Obas.
“It is a height of double standard and insincerity for Engr. Makinde to nail Sen. Ajimobi on the cross over a developmental stride only to defy decorum to implement the same blueprint five years after although with obnoxious insertions. Another pointer to the governor’s insincerity is the recent orchestrated truce purportedly brokered among gladiators in the transport sector in the state which we have discovered to be a grand ploy to enrich him (Makinde) and few of his cronies.” Sadare stated.
In another development, Oyo APC has read riot act to some individuals who it accused of employing deliberate blackmail, name dropping and impersonation in their desperation to be popular in the political space. “We have again discovered that some individuals are now in the habit of taking an advantage of the proliferation in the media industry to attract undue authority to themselves. An instance is a man who went on air to proclaim APC dead in Oyo state even without a reasonable justification for his reckless statement. For the avoidance of doubt, APC is well and alive in Oyo. Interestingly, the broom party is waxing stronger now.
“How on earth would a person who has never contested and won any election, held an executive position or hold the membership card of a political party come on air and call himself a chieftain of such party? APC is neither a social group or trade union which anyone can denigrate, not even a naive political theorist who seeks to reap where he does not sow. We know our members who attend ward meetings regularly and do all what is expected of them at all times.” APC said.
