A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and owner of Jogor Events Centre, Engr. Femi Babalola, lambasted the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde as responsible for the state’s lack of sustainable development.
Babalola stated this recently on the YS Life radio programme on Yes 101.7 FM in Ibadan.
He said, “Looking at critical issues that have to do with our political terrain and atmosphere currently in Oyo State, such as competence, capability, and local knowledge, which go with the state’s experience, Makinde has none.”
Jogor continued, “Many issues would have to be considered in the next gubernatorial election, which would go beyond party politics.
“In the past years, we wished to go beyond rhetoric. It is not only about party politics but also as far as the state is concerned. Oyo State was well-arranged before, but now it is no longer good. We are here to reshape things back in order. Some people are just after political appointments; once they fail, you will no longer see them in the state. We need people with good backgrounds to govern the state.”
Babalola condemned sentiments, saying that Oyo State has made many terrible mistakes using sentiments to elect leaders. He said, “We must restructure Oyo State mainly for our children to avoid future negligence.”
Engr. Babalola also disclosed further that there are no lucrative jobs in the state, while insecurity has bastardised everything.
“As I have said earlier, this is beyond party politics. Are we happy with the present situation in Oyo State?
“Looking at education, Oyo State is a bit laid back because the schools could not access grants. The principals were running into debt to ensure comfort for their students. Unfortunately, Oyo State performed woefully in the last concluded West Africa Examination Council (WAEC). And the past aged rulers of the state have done wonders for the growth of the state.
In this state, we had people who were commissioners of police, major generals, and IGs. So, they were capable of knowing what to do in terms of insecurity.
Oyo state is encountering more difficulties in the health sector.
The government invested so much in agriculture. Farming is very straightforward. No issues are attached to the farming system. You could claim to be hardworking, but the end would justify the means. As we can witness the inflation of food prices yearly, the government claims to spend money on farm settlements. Let us take a look at Awolowo’s reign in Nigeria… He had an agricultural policy; all those products resulted from Awolowo’s farm policy.
Power, sport and infrastructure,
Power is in the federal government’s purview; we will continue to pray that it gets better. Fashola once said a government that cannot provide power is useless. Power is one of the threats we face in Oyo state, and the federal government’s inability to generate enough power is causing this.
There are many factors of production, and power is one of them, and it’s vital. There is no governor whose power would not hinder his performance, but we have discovered that some companies can still perform despite an inadequate power supply. An example is Sumal; despite the power failure, Sumal produces biscuits. British American Tobacco products are available. Fan Milk also continually gives out its products.
Babalola condemned roads, street lights, and also roads in Oke-Ogun
“We have seen the street lights are working, and we have also seen the stadium.
The stadium
Babalola said no person would govern; he must do something productive to develop the state. Governor Rasheed Ladoja bought shares to help Oyo State; he sold the shares, which were ten times greater than the money he spent on shares. We are using money now, and most government projects are misplaced priorities. One who plans to build a house would not start with a garden. All the roads are damaged; maybe they should try local government autonomy. When Akala left as governor, south-west was paid 120 million monthly. The average receipt of the local government in Oyo State was about eight million per month as of 2007.
The government is looking up to local government accountability. If we want to deceive ourselves, we would say six and a half dozen are different. Let us say we are using a federation. We are using what is enshrined in the Constitution; whatever we see, we call it. When America gained its independence from Britain, they left with the parliamentary system. However, when they formed America, they developed a governance culture that suited them. I have not seen a governance system we will create in Nigeria that will eliminate the local government. Once you eradicate local government, there will not be any development.
Instead, it is better to remove the state and leave the local government, which is the British system. America created the federal system, which comprises federal, state, and county governments, which are equivalent to local government. But the county was put under the administration of the state; they recognized the need for the government to be very close to the people.
The family is the nucleus of any development; local governments are closer to people and the environment. I listened to the governor’s interview, and he said he has just been implementing the policy for three and a half years. That means there was no policy from day one. Professors of sanitary engineering are in Ibadan, Oyo State. If they are not patient enough to get the facts about the state, I do not think they can fix the problems. There would be a loss of money when it comes to experiments.
When asked about the way forward in 2023, he said, “I do not know yet. We should do what is profitable to us in our state.” I can identify the house owners at this Felele. I have known this road since 1981, and it’s getting worse.
Asking Babalola how he sees Seyi Makinde in 2023, he said, “Governor Seyi Makinde should bring out his score sheet and let us see, so we should consider more people as candidates who are willing to serve Oyo State.
“Oyo State lacks sustainable development. There must be enough funds to fund projects, and the state cannot do anything if there are not enough funds.
“There is no sustainable development in Oyo State, and Governor Seyi Makinde does not support the PDP presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar. We, the PDP members, supported Atiku Abubakar. We met thrice two weeks ago, the originators of the People’s Democratic Party in Oyo State.”
When asked if he wished to form a coalition, he said, “We do not know God’s plan because there has been a terrible mistake since 2019, but God will reform the state in 2023.”
While reacting to the prompt salary payment by the Seyi Makinde-led administration, Engr. Babalola disclosed that the governor should be ashamed to count that as a major achievement,, adding that it is a right and not a privilege. One who does it right pays salaries from his own pocket, not the Federal government.
And Governor Seyi Makinde said we did not work for him to attain the position he is in today. We are sure of our consciences because we helped him in 2019. Everything happens to be a lesson for an elderly person.
God, make me relevant in this government. I should not labour in vain. Babalola said we are taking our prayer points to the next level.
