Tag: Seyi Makinde

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Monday urged Gov. Seyi Makinde to think twice about his alleged plan to take over some land in Ibadan. The Governor had proposed creating 500 metres setbacks for the ongoing Circular Road project in the city.

But Oyo APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, queried the rationale behind the alleged plan. It insisted it was part of Makinde government’s determination to “forcefully hijack over 24,700 acres of privately-owned land”.

The Oyo state chapter of APC argued that such action would render over 100,000 families homeless and stranded.

The project is expected to run through the six local government areas (LGAs) in the outer parts of Ibadan city. Controversy had raged over the announcement of the 500 metres setbacks on both sides of the 110-kilometre road.

Oyo APC said the affected landlords have pleaded for leniency even as many of them have allegedly had their choice buildings demolished or marked for demolition by the state government’s agents.

“Tongues have been wagging on why a governor would allegedly alter the approved plan of a development project initiated by his predecessors to suit his wishes in a democracy.

“While members of the public do not have sufficient information about the progress made on the real construction of the Circular Road, apart from the fact that billions of Naira were set aside as the cost, government has allegedly prioritised the grabbing of land belonging to poor citizens.

“Even as the state government claims the actions were being taken in the overriding public interest, certain questions on the exact development projects which are to be done on such expanse of land have not been answered by the government.

“This has lent credence to the submission from many quarters that it could be a repeat of what had happened to various land resources owned by either the government or private individuals/organisations allegedly sold off by the government in recent times,” the party said.

It contended that the alleged sale of BCOS Staff Quarters, ARCEDEM Estates owned by ECOWAS, some segment of Agodi Gardens land, Trans Amusement Park, among others, still hurt the state’s citizens.

“It is imperative that the governor should halt his alleged plan on taking land and properties owned by hapless citizens with a view to allocating them to investors,” Oyo State APC said.

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has reaffirmed his commitment to deliver the dividends of democracy to all the state’s residents.

Makinde stated this on Saturday while opening the reconstructed Olodo bridge on the 35.6 Kilometre Iwo Road, Ibadan, whose rehabilitation is ongoing.

The governor was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin.

Makinde said all the nook and cranny of the state, without regard to the political inclination, religious affiliation or socio-economic group, would feel the impact of good governance.

He explained that his administration’s commitment to this necessitated the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Iwo Road, concentrating energy on projects with the potential to expand the state’s economy.

“The rehabilitation aspect of the road project, involving the repairs of existing hydraulic structure and overlaying of the asphaltic surface had commenced in earnest after the award of the road project and is still ongoing.

“However, the heavy rainfall of July 4, 2023, in which Egberi River overflowed its banks at Olodo area, due to the inadequacy of the existing 3.0m x 3.0m single box culvert, rendered the road impassable.

“The anguish and economic losses that the state and her citizenry incurred in the wake of the flooding event were better imagined than experienced,” he said.

He noted that the successful completion of the first half of the bridge would, however, enhance the seamless movement of people, vehicles, goods and services and serve as a link connecting Osun.

On behalf of the Olodo community, John Adebayo said completing the bridge had ended the many years of suffering caused by incessant flooding and inability to use the road.

He took time to appreciate the Makinde-led administration for its intervention.

The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde has bragged that he has broken the jinx of ‘who is your father’ in the  political setting of the state.

Makinde added that the era of ‘who is your father’ in politics is gone in Oyo state.

Makinde made his position known while  speaking on Wednesday at Students’ Legislative Summit organised by the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan.

Some of the dignitaries at the event included the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande, a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who was represented and Speakers of Osun and Ekiti State Houses of Assembly.

The governor, while speaking, declared that there was a time when ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day in the political space of the state.

He, however, said that he has been able to break that.

Makinde, while speaking further, said that his father was a ‘nobody’ and the Oyo State people still gave him the opportunity to lead.

The governor also declared that Nigerian youths must become more actively involved in governance by increasing their participation.

Makinde said that the issue of leadership is imperative in preparing the youth for the future and governance.

“For us here, we have seen the common situation where ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day but we have been able to break that in Oyo State. My father was a ‘nobody’ and the Oyo State people still gave me the opportunity to lead.

“We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future. Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation amongst the youth.

“I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960 and six years after, in 1966, the person that became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years and some months old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.

“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.

“You have the students here and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on. If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”