Makinde, APC Bicker Over Road Project in Oyo State

From Toluwa Agboluaje ,Ibadan

Gov Makinde

 

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has alleged that Governor Oluseyi Makinde administration is unfair in the way it is handling of legacy projects of the immediate past government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Making a direct reference to the media reports which had it that Gov. Makinde had issued a stop-work order to the contractors handling the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project put in place by the last administration, Oyo APC said in a statement issued, on Friday, by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, that it “was unfortunate that the present PDP government was out to play unnecessary politics with everything not minding effects its action would have on the state.

“One would naturally wonder what could have motivated the governor to direct virtually all his actions towards obliterating the enviable record of good governance left behind by the Ajimobi administration particularly in the areas of physical infrastructure. Since his assumption of office in May this year, Gov. Makinde has made it a daily habit to cry wolf where none existed.

“To set the record straight, Ibadan Circular Road project was awarded by the Ajimobi administration in 2018 without a dime coming from the government as it is being done under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The total stretch of new road to be constructed is 110km and not the 36km figure quoted by Gov. Makinde. However, if the governor was not satisfied with the pace of work on the project, he could invite the Consortium involved to his office and sort things out with them.

“Interestingly, Gov. Makinde can commission different model schools built by Sen. Ajimobi to mark his own first 100 days in office. The same governor can distribute the books produced by the APC administration to public school pupils to kick off his controversial free education programme while he can also take delivery of medical equipment fully procured by Ajimobi and move them to Adeoyo State Hospital as his own initiative but he would still not be at peace whenever he comes across other lofty projects of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi. This calls for a concern and we urge him (Makinde) to have a rethink.” APC stated.

The opposition party also berated the Makinde administration over the alleged misinformation and falsehood being dished out to the public on the total refunds of N24.6 million made to Oyo State pilgrims to this year Hajj in Saudi Arabia by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM), Abuja.

The refunds, according to NAHCOM,was as a result of overpayment made to it by the individual pilgrims during the registration for the 2019 exercise.

However, Governor Makinde gave further information as to why he issued a stop-work order on the ongoing 32-kilometre East Wing of the Ibadan Circular Road project along Lagos-Ibadan bye-pass, Ibadan.

Makinde made the disclosure while speaking at the official commissioning of the Satellite Audio Network of the State-Owned radio station, Oluyole FM at the premises of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Bashorun, Ibadan.

Speaking on the importance of the commissioned facility, the governor who described his administration as a listening one said he had promised the people that he would take the state-owned broadcasting outfit to a height that that the people would all be proud of.

Makinde accused the immediate-past administration of neglecting the outfit in the last 12 years, saying there was nothing meaningful done to uplift its efficiency and that what the past administration failed to do in eight years, his PDP led government has done within six months.

“I have often taken every opportunity to remind the people of Oyo state that we are an administration that listens, we are not in the business of curbing free speech or when you complain to us about something, we look at it then we act. We are tapping your brains to guide us.

“So, this commissioning of the Satellite Audio Network of the Oluyole Network Station is because you spoke and we listened, even while during the campaign trail.

“It is on record that BCOS radio and TV did not enjoy any capital intervention in nearly a decade. Yet, in August, we released a little over N180million for this project. Today, we are commissioning it, three months.

Earlier in a remark, the Executive Chairman, BCOS, Prince Dotun Oyelade said since his appointment, the station  had to operate within the spirit of the current administration, knowing full well that probity, accountability and creative husbanding of the little resources available to us is the cornerstone of this government.

The broadcast manager said:“Today’s Milestone event which is replicated in Alaga and Ajilete F.M Stations should have been commissioned long ago, but for the stringent Due Process procedures for which this government is known and which we gladly followed through.