The Government of Oyo state just approved the sum of N35billion as development package, but in truth, the approved funds look like a fraudulent diversion to cater for the 2027 general elections by the Agodi Landlord.
All the items listed as attachments for the different approvals raises suspicion but I will be emphasizing on two of them. According to reports, the Oyo state Executive Council approved the sum of 3bn interest – free intervention loan for an undisclosed indigenous Cassava processing factory located at Ado-Awaye.
The reports claimed further that the Cassava factory which produces Cassava flour and other derivatives, is expected to benefit more than 25,000 farmers, create employment opportunities and further consolidates Oyo state position as one of Nigeria’s leading Cassava producing States.
I have a big problem with the above approval of an interest-free intervention loan by the Government of Oyo state, most especially, to an unnamed indigenous Cassava processing factory at Ado-Awaye. It is public funds we are talking about here. What is the name of the indigenous Cassava processing factory that will enjoy this benefits?
Who is, or are the owners of this unnamed factory and how have they contributed positively to the growth of Commerce, Industries and employments in the past? How exactly is an interest-free intervention loan of N3billion, granted to an unnamed indigenous Cassava processing factory going to benefit over 25,000 Farmers of Oyo state?
Most importantly, how will the funds be delivered to the factory because, the last time I checked, the Oyo state Government is not a Commercial Bank. Will the loan be delivered to the unnamed factory through a Commercial Bank so that repayment process would be transparent or what? What are the terms of agreement between the two parties? Will Government make the documentation public because, Oyo state is not and can not be a Father Christmas.
I am asking these questions because of the experience with the Bus Terminals.
A loan of about N15billion was obtained by the Oyo State Government to build Bus Terminals but Government later handed over the same Bus Terminals to an illegal entity known as Park Managers and no one knows who has been responsible for the repayment of the loan till today. Though, it is being alleged that the 33 Local Governments are bearing the burnt of repaying the loan,
So, we should know what we are entering into here. Like I said, these funds belong to the public and we demand quick answers. From the same reports, an additional sum of N26.7billion was approved by the Oyo State Executive Council, purportedly, for the ongoing upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
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The fresh approval, according to the Council, is meant to cover additional works, including the construction of a 140-meter strip, runway safety area, blast pad, extra pipe covers and “other essential airport facilities”.
I also have a big problem with this particular approval of another sum of N26.7b for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. It is looking like the purported upgrade of the Airport is fast becoming another conduit pipe, contesting with the ill-fated Light Up Oyo Project.
Let me quickly remind the reader, that, Bimbo Adekanmbi was the Chairman of the Committee appointed by Governor Seyi Makinde to be in charge of the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. May I also remind you further, that, the same Bimbo Adekambi is the anointed gubernatorial candidate of Governor Seyi Makinde under the Allied People’s Movement, APM? I had raised an alarm, a few weeks ago, that the contracts for the upgrade of the Airport had been varied severally to an astronomical N200billion or thereabout and Government did not deny this fact.
Now, another N26.7billion has been approved for the same project! That is not the only issue I have with this fresh approval of funds. Sometimes in January this year, Governor Seyi Makinde claimed publicly that the Airport is ready for Commissioning!
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Infact, I have information on the fact that Governor Makinde prevented Federal Government officials from using the Airport because the latter were not forthcoming in granting approval for the Commissioning of the facility way back in January. So, what is the necessity for this fresh approval if the same project was ready for Commissioning since January?
I think at this point, all of us should stand up and ask the Governor to make public, the expenses that has so far gone into the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
What are the details of the contracts involved? The variations, if any and reasons for them. What is the necessity for this fresh approval of another N26.7b, when, in actual facts, Governor Makinde claimed that the Airport was ready for Commissioning since January?
If Governor Seyi Makinde would not provide us with this information, I think Bimbo Adekanmbi, as a man of integrity which many would want us to believe he is, should not be afraid to furnish the public with these harmless information. When the Oyo state Executive Council came out with series of approval of funds for several projects last year, I raised very serious alarm about some of the approved funds and the projects attached to them.
I was very specific and emphatic about the 100bn approved for the Light Up Oyo Project. I also raised questions about the funds approved for the construction of an airstrip at Igbeti.
What has happened to those projects and the funds attached to them? I hope they have not gone into the financing of several litigations and logistics for the struggle by Governor Seyi Makinde to become the sole owner of the PDP?
I pity the next Governor of Oyo state. The next Governor has so much to do because the present Government is a total calamity. The 33 Local Governments have become comatose. Infrastructures in our rural Communities, primary and secondary schools are at ground zero.
The state of our trunk B, C and D roads are calamitous, to say the least. Existing Government Institutions and facilities like the Broadcasting Corporations of Oyo state, Agbowo Shopping Complex and others are gasping for breath. Our debt profile has become so astronomical that even the Governor is ashamed to talk about it. Government assets are being sold at very unprecedented scale! May God be with the incoming Governor of Oyo state. For us in Oyo state, may it not be a case of, ” there was a state”.
Sola Abegunde.
