A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to be transparent with the state’s people when borrowing loans.
Alao, in a statement issued by his Media Office in Ibadan, reacted to the recent approval of the state House of Assembly for the governor to borrow N50 billion. He said Makinde owes it to the people to be explicit about what he wants to use the loan for, giving a breakdown with an estimated budget/cost per project, as he holds his position in trust for them.
According to him, while taking loans is not bad it is incumbent on any leader doing such on behalf of the people to be open to them on reasons for the loans, stating that it is important for Governor Makinde to give a breakdown of what he intends to use the approved N50b for.
The Asiwaju of Irokoland maintained that the days of incurring loans for expensive projects that could be executed at minimal costs and did not significantly affect the lives of the people of the state should be over in the governor’s second term. He insisted that, like in his admonition in his congratulatory message, Governor Makinde should focus more attention on areas that are germane, such as education, security, health, the creation of jobs for the youth, and the the state of the environment.
He disclosed that in the last four years, the governor has borrowed over N100 billion, warning that the governor should refrain from engaging in acts that will further plunge the state into a burdensome financial servitude, which will become a big liability for the state after he leaves office.
Alao similarly enjoined the state House of Assembly to be circumspect in approving every loan the executive brings to the floor as the lawmakers were elected to represent the interest of the people, noting that the absence of the lawmakers who are members of the APC during the sitting when the loan was approved could not but raise an alarm of the House populated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only doing the bidding of Governor Makinde.
He said, “It is necessary to sound a note of caution to our dear Governor Seyi Makinde on the fresh loan of N50 billion just approved for him by the state House of Assembly. In as much as we do not see taking loans as harmful, our concern remains that there is a need for the governor to tell the people what he wants to use the loan for.
“The people of the state as stakeholders deserve a right for convincing reasons for any loan to be taken on their behalf most especially the economic benefits of the projects to them in order not to mortgage their collective patrimony.”
