The recent claims made by the Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, that his administration had delivered on its promise to the people have again pitched him against the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the opposition party argued that such submission revealed how insensitive, primitive and untruthful the governor could be.
Gov. Makinde, who recently flagged off his reelection campaign in Ibadan, had pointed out in his speech at different campaign grounds in parts of the state that his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administration had been able to meet the yearnings of the people in relation to the promises he made before he was elected governor in 2019.
In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC warned Gov. Makinde against using his army of political thugs drawn from the Niger Delta and most beneficiaries of the Park Management System to unleash terror on residents of communities and locations where he and his team visit for campaign and political engagement in the build up to the next general election.
“We have watched with dismay how Gov. Makinde has centred his reelection campaign on the fictitious and fallacious claims of performance in office. The governor moved from Igbo-Ora in Ibarapa to Ogbomoso and later Oyo town on a jamboree expedition and he gave the same uninspiring speech which was premised on promise delivery and midas touch. This has been established to be a statement meant for media hype as usual since there is nothing on ground anywhere around the state to justify such claims.
“It is a height of insensitivity and hypocrisy for Gov. Makinde to have claimed excellence in governance when it is obvious that he is the worst civilian to have ruled the state in about 47 years of its existence. With close to N800 billion which he has had in his possession since 2019, the governor cannot boast of any tangible achievement which can make him rank among the best even in this current political dispensation even as he cannot lay claim to anything capable of guaranteeing a robust future for the state.
“On one hand, he told the people of Ibarapa he had delivered on promise only to plead for their understanding on the other hand when he realized nothing was working anywhere in the zone. The people of Ibarapa have been the worst victims of insecurity under Gov. Makinde and in addition to this, none of their seven major cities can boast of standard or modern infrastructure of any kind. As we speak, Lanlate has been cut off from other parts of the state due to the collapse of the only bridge linking it to Eruwa.
“In Ogbomoso where Gov. Makinde again scored himself 100 per cent, tongues are wagging on the unfulfilled promise of a fly over construction at Takie junction which he made two years ago. Many communities do not have access roads and they include; Patemota/Kaka, Katangua/Akowonjo, Bolanta/Masifa, Amama and Isale Ora. Just like the situation in all parts of the state, the local government councils which helps the economy of Ogbomoso have been grounded while residents are always at the mercy of kidnappers, armed robbers and hoodlums who strike at regular intervals. Also, the people of Oko in Surulere are still agitated over the fake promise of a juice factory made to them by the governor in 2021.
“The security situation in Oyo town and its environs is even more worrisome as hoodlums, cultists and political thugs unleash terror on the hapless citizens everyday. Gov. Makinde is yet to complete the Silo project in Awe while he has not also fulfilled his promise on the construction of Atiba Hall and Atiba FM. Students of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education who did their first degree programs have not received their certificates since 2020 because the state government refused to release fees paid by them to Ekiti State University (EKSU) with which EACOED was in partnership while there is nothing on ground to indicate the elevation of the College to a University status as orchestrated by the Makinde administration.
“As we speak today, education is in shambles in Oyo state as this manifested in WAEC delisting 50 schools recently while teachers and pupils groan as basic facilities and funding are lacking. Taps are dry and roads are in deplorable condition while nothing works in the Agriculture and other key sectors. If Gov. Makinde has not built anything close to the First Technical University, another Agodi Gardens or College of Agriculture, Igbo-Ora in the last 43 months, he should not mislead the world over any performance claim.” APC said.
