Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state have started talking, or, should I say, dreaming about the Legacies he will leave behind as the Landlord of Agodi Government House for eight years.
During the signing of the Project Monitoring Agency Bill, 2024 at the Secretariat last week Thursday, Governor Makinde declared that Oyo state doesn’t require strong Governors but rather strong Institutions to thrive.
He went on to say that what he would like to leave behind as his Legacies are the strong Institutions he is building.
He admitted to meeting on ground a Bureau of Public Procurement and Governor’s Monitoring Team but that there was no value for money.
I will love to start my observations about the statements and wishes of Governor Makinde from the paragraph above.
Governor Makinde have been known for his penchant to create Institutions which at best could be described as needless duplication.
According to the Governor, he already met a Bureau of Public Procurement and Governor’s Monitoring Team on ground.
His only reason for this new Agency is as a result of what the Governor termed ” no value for money”.
Did I hear him right?
Governor Makinde who have been alleged of awarding a contract regarding notebooks to Oriyomi Hamzat in violation of the Oyo state procurement Laws is the one saying this?
Value for money?
It has been alleged that Governor Makinde, in violation of the procurement Laws, awarded the said contract at an outrageous sum of about two thousand Naira per notebook!
Despite the fire and brimstones from the Governor about the allegations to the extent that he threatened to resign as Governor if the allegations were proven, the matter have been swept under the carpet, gathering dusts.
Governor Seyi Makinde knows we live in a society that have lost the appetite to ask questions about the misdeeds of Government.
If not, he wouldn’t have listed ” value for money” as one of the reasons he’s doing away with the Law he met on ground.
At best, Governor Makinde might be bringing another Law that will conform with his outrageous contract awards.
When Governor Seyi Makinde established the Oyo state Anti Corruption Agency, some of us knew it was a completely unnecessary venture.
In the first instance, such Agencies, under a state Governor and by virtue of our Constitution would be extremely limited in scope of jurisdiction.
Secondly, there is no crime which this Agency is assumed to tackle that could not be tackled by the police, ICPC and the EFCC, even, more effectively.
I challenge Governor Seyi Makinde to publish the activities of the OYSACA, what number of cases It has handled, how much the Agency have recovered for Government against Its Budget.
Governor Seyi Makinde had OYSACA in place when the allegations of the alleged contract bloating was made against both himself and Oriyomi Hamzat, why didn’t he refer the matter to the Agency?
How could one forget how Eng. Seyi Makinde, as candidate of the PDP joined others to stand against the attempts by late Governor Ajimobi to tinker with the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law?
What is he doing with the Law now?
Has he not, as we speak, made a sharp turn against those he once joined to fight against Ajimobi?
Has he not made more comprehensive changes to the same Ibadan Chieftaincy Law to the extent that there are now serious issues raised than that of Ajimobi?
Governor Seyi Makinde loves to deceive himself.
He seems to have been lost in the clouds of ovation by his praise singers and ” Olentelafas”.
He seems to think that he is special, perhaps, wiser than everyone before him.
How could a Governor who have taken our Education sector backwards to the extent that war Boko Haram ravaged Borno state is now above us in the WAEC index boast of building strong Institutions?
What strong Institutions can you build when your Education sector is in disaster?
Which strong Institutions remain to be built when you have sold nearly off all the preserved GRAs left for future generations by your predecessors?
You sold a part of the BCOS earmarked for a very important and Legacy Project, you sold off a part of the Agodi Gardens despite Its importance and public outcry, you sold off the Trans Amusement parks and it doesn’t seem like you’re going to stop.
Which Institutions are you now building, where?
Is it the cosmetic Agencies that can never stand a test of time?
I have listened to a program on Radio today.
Your marksmen have invaded the Agodi Gate market.
What won’t your Government sell off?
Your Government have increased the debts profile of Oyo state into a monumental proportion.
Is that the strong Institution?
Is your Legacy?
Let me be honest with you, Your Excellency, people of Oyo state are going to remember you for what you have turned Legacy structures like Agbowo shopping complex to. A den of the outcasts and an eye sore.
They will remember you for how you romanced Mukaila Auxiliary who have claimed that you employed him as ” guard, protector”.
They will remember how Auxillary terrorized them for four years under your cover and protection.
They will remember Rahman, they will remember what Auxiliary did in Eruwa, Igangan, Ogbomoso and other areas.
Of course, they will not forget how livid you were, when your opponent in the 2023 gubernatorial election, Teslim Kolawole Folarin warned you against associating with an ex convict if you were serious about the security of the lives and properties of Oyo state citizens.
They will never forget how you threw caution to the wind because of that honest advice.
How will they forget the comatose state of the 33 Local Governments?
These and many more are the realities of the Legacy you have built in the past five years.
I should not forget to add, politicians in Oyo state will never forget you.
How could they?
The Alliance of 2019. Atiku and many more.
How could anyone forget!
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
