The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde as a new threat to the nation’s democracy, warning the public to watch out for the governor.
APC attributed the warning to Governor Makinde’s “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.”
State Publicity of the APC, Olawale Sadare, in a statement on Monday in Ibadan, noted that Governor Makinde has in recent times came hard on the federal government on a number of issues including removal of subsidy on imported petroleum products, financial autonomy to the third tier of government, #EndBadGovernance protests and contentious N570 billion Economic Stimulus paid to the 36 states of the federation among others.
Sadare added 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.”
The main opposition party in the state further accused the Governor of muscling the traditional institution by altering the age-long succession arrangement in all the ancient towns, resulting in unprecedented crisis in many towns.
Sadare listed Eruwa, Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Igangan, Iseyin among other ancient towns where the governor had allegedly altered the traditional chieftaincy succession arrangements.
“In the case of Oyo, the same Gov. Makinde who ran to court to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (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,” Oyo APC alleged.
The party added that, “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.”
The APC maintained that “any attempt by Makinde and his supporters to blackmail the federal government on the matter would fail.”
In the meantime, the party called on the Makinde-led 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.”
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