Former Minister for Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has expressed confidence in the success of the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections in Oyo State in favour of his political party.
The APC stalwart, who stated this during a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday, said the results of last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections have shown clearly that Oyo State citizens have unanimously resolved to completely support the party in the gubernatorial election.
It would be recalled that the APC secured victory for all the three senatorial seats in the state with almost half a million votes for the presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and also won nine out of the 14 House of Representatives seats in the state.
“We are therefore assured that with the foregoing results, the state Assembly and Gubernatorial
Contest on 11th March would be a walk-over for our great party, APC.” He stated.
Meanwhile, Barr. Shittu accused Governor Seyi Makinde-led government of destruction of local government, stressing that no local government has tarred even one kilometre of road since the inception of his administration.
“It is a very sad commentary to discover that Local Governments in Oyo State merely exist on paper, devoid of all the constitutionally ordained independence and responsibilities that they have been assigned. A situation where the Federal Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission grants a monthly revenue of, say one hundred million (₦100m), but the Makinde-led Government allocates only ten million naira would inexorably stifle the Local Governments and stultify the growth of the Local Communities.
“As of today, meeting any of the Local Government Chairmen or other officials is to be confronted with very pitiably existential problems. Unfortunately, the State House of Assembly itself is so compromised that they are not in a position to come to the rescue of the Local Governments.
“There is therefore, the need for the
EFCC to intervene to rescue the Local Governments in Oyo State from a financial and existential
dictatorship.
“We have it on good authority that no Local Government in Oyo State has been able to tar even one kilometer of road throughout the last four years. Why then do you waste money on paying the Salaries of Local Government staff who you have made redundant?
“Consequently, no, more execution of physical projects like classrooms, rural roads, culverts and so on, by any of the Local Governments in the State.
“The question therefore is: in
whose pocket are Local Governments monthly allocations are stored, and for what dubious
reasons?” Barr. Shittu stated.
In hi statement titled “Whither Oyo State 2023: Seyi Makinde’s Gubernatorial Foibles”, delivered during the press conference, the former Communication Minister listed the shortcomings of the Makinde-led government to include:
“Total Destruction of the Local Government System.
“Construction of Motor Parks at more than ₦22bn
“Management of the parks by a barely educated and acclaimed street fighter and pathologically feared ex-convict
“Mismanagement of educational system and printing and distribution of exercise books to school children at the cost of five thousand Naira per book. What a fraudulent bazaar!
“Planned but aborted renovation of Healthcare Centres. It is on record that two years ago Gov. Makinde deducted the sum of ₦50m from the accounts of each of the 33 Local Governments in Oyo State.
“Award of frivolous contracts to “Consultants”. The Makinde Government is noted for engaging in awarding contracts on every imaginable subject-matter to its friends and minions. Unfortunately, virtually all the so-called
consultants are non-Oyo indigenes, this is most uncharitable for our indigenes who deserve similar patronages.
“Appointments of teachers and Amotekun staff, Etc. We have it on good authority that new appointments into the Teaching Service, Amotekun Corps and similar recruitments do not follow standards of meritocracy but
clannishness and favoritism.
Barr Shittu added that with the listed shortcomings, Governor
Makinde is unfit to continue to be entrusted with the governance of Oyo State.
Dignitaries at the press conference included Mr. Sunday Ademiluyi, Mr. Olusakin Babalola and Alhaja Aminat Omotunmise among others.