The candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State, Chief (Engr) Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has urged everybody, particularly Muslims and Christians, “to fear Allah, be open and fair in all our dealings with fellow human beings” as Ramadan 1442 (2021) begins.
Engr Hakeem Alao, the new Asiwaju of Iroko in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, said the basic teachings of Ramadan, according to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was to be compassionate, feel what others were feeling and put oneself in their shoes, “and this is why we have to be open and fair in all our endeavours before, during and after each Ramadan.”
These were the messages of Engr Hakeem Alao in a statement signed by his media spokesman, Omotayo Iyanda, to commemorate the start of Ramadan in 2021.
Engr Hakeem Alao, on the occasion of the Ramadan 2021, specifically felicitated with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Alayeluwa Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba (Dr) Abdul-Ganiy Adekunle Salau, Ajinese 1, Oniroko of Iroko, HRH Olasunkanmi Ismaila Abioye Opeola, Alado of Olodo, HRH Mudasiru Adebayo, the Aare Musulumi Of Yoruba land, Edo & Delta, Alhaji Daud Makanjuola Akinola, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere and all other imams, alfas and Muslims across Oyo State.
The former AD gubernatorial candidate in the state stated that both the governed and their leaders in particular must always assess themselves to ascertain whether they were fair in their dealings with their fellow countrymen.
In the Ramadan message, Chief Oyedele Hakeem Alao charged Engr Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, to put in more action in the developmental activities of his government for the people of the state, especially in the area of security and sincere resuscitation of the moribund Water Corporation of Oyo State (WCOS).
‘Truly, Governor Makinde took some steps in the last few weeks to address the problems being encountered by the staff of the corporation in their personal lives and career as civil servants.
‘Truth be told, the Oyo State Government under Engr Seyi Makinde has never done or taken any outstanding action to put water corporation back to its former glory,” stating that “pipe borne water is not being distributed across Oyo State at the moment, except in few places like Aremo, Oje and Beere whose supply is even very erratic and epileptic.”
He stated further that Water Corporation of Oyo State (WCOS) had always been neglected and turned into a conduit pipe to steal people’s money in the state “by certain past administrations, perhaps including the present administration.”
“Water Corporation of Oyo State needs complete overhauling and we have to be committed and serious about it, not paying only lip service and allowing the use of the corporation as a conduit pipe for political office holders and their cohorts.”
“Transferring the staff of the corporation to other MDAs has not and would not solve the humongous issues and problems with the oldest government department in the state.
“How on earth will somebody think that deployment of staff to other MDAs will reduce the wage bill of the government? Is it not the same Oyo State Government that will pay the bill of the staff transferred to other ministries? This is like scratching the wall with mere fingers.”
“On security challenges in the state, Governor Makinde, while speaking at a security meeting with traditional rulers in the state last week, said openly and without shame that he was allocating N5m to each local government and LCDA in Oyo State, out of which he expected them to allot N1m or N2m to fight security in each local government area.
“We wonder what that paltry amount can do with the present economic state of things in the country. Honestly, this is laughable and our governor should act more seriously. How can a local government which, if democratically elected, will take nothing less than N100m monthly survive with just N5m in a month? That’s why it’s very necessary to ensure we have true democratically elected personnel in our local government administration.”
Engr Hakeem Alao, however, said “As we rejoice and wish Muslims around the world a peaceful and successful Ramadan fasting in 2021, we charge our political leaders, particularly Governor Makinde, to fear Allah, be open and fair in their dealings with all of us.”
