A major political storm is brewing in Oyo State following the purported approval of a N300 billion loan by the State House of Assembly. The approval, which has been met with widespread condemnation, has drawn fire from Comrade Olaniyi Oludare John, a prominent political activist and a vibrant member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a fiery press statement, Comrade Olaniyi condemned the loan as a blatant disregard for due process and a threat to the state’s financial future. The controversy was brought to the fore by Hon. Shittu Ibraheem Aremu, the lawmaker representing Saki West State Constituency. He alleged that the loan was secretly approved during an emergency plenary session on August 19, 2025, while the House was on a six-week recess, and that he was neither informed nor present at the sitting.
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The Oyo State government has since denied the claim, stating that the loan is a mix of refinancing an existing loan and contractor financing for infrastructure projects, and that the emergency plenary was duly announced. However, Comrade Olaniyi called this explanation into question.
Comrade Olaniyi, a former student leader who once led the National body of the Federation of Igboora Students Union (FISU), pointed out the irony of the government seeking such a large loan at a time when states are receiving significantly increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). He argued that this move raises serious questions about the government’s transparency and its fiscal management.
“This is not just about a loan, it is about accountability and the future of our state. Why is a loan considered an emergency, and why was the sitting not communicated to all the honorable members? The people of Oyo State deserve to know,” the activist stated.
He also took a swipe at the Oyo State House of Assembly, accusing its leadership under Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin of attempting to silence Hon. Shittu for his patriotic act of speaking out. Comrade Olaniyi views this as a dangerous precedent that could stifle dissent and undermine the democratic process in the state.
Comrade Olaniyi is now calling for a public forum where Governor Seyi Makinde and Speaker Ogundoyin can openly interact with the people of Oyo State and answer questions regarding the series of loans taken by the administration and the justification for this new one. His stance is clear: vigilance is the price of liberty, and the people of Oyo State must not allow themselves to be shackled by a burden of debt.
