The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde’s two-hour media chat, describing the programme as unproductive and accusing him of ignoring pressing issues affecting residents.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday, following the governor’s appearance on a privately owned radio station on Sunday.
Makinde had participated in a live interview with a single presenter, answering questions during the two-hour programme, which reportedly attracted a large audience.
The APC also linked the early Monday resignation of the governor’s Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, to what it described as possible internal challenges within the state government.
“The early Monday morning resignation of Governor Makinde’s Chief of Staff, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi, is an ominous sign that all is not well with the government of the day in Oyo State, while the governor would have to retrace his steps and seek help from the appropriate quarters within and outside the state.
Many people have queried the choice of a privately owned radio station for Makinde’s media engagement, but we all know that the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State has become moribund under him in the last seven years, with all the corporation’s lands and resources sold at ridiculous prices and studios left to pack while staff are being subjected to untold maltreatment.
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Be that as it may, Makinde used the whole two hours, which cost a fortune of the state money, to dwell on issues that were of little or no concern to the good people of the state.
He (Makinde) told his audience that he joined the presidential race in protest against an alleged disappointment he received from President Bola Tinubu when he should have explained what his government was doing to justify the huge allocations and subventions which he gets from the Federal Government.
“Makinde ought to have explained his role in the rescue operation of the 20 prospective Corps members from the state who were kidnapped in Imo State. The public wanted to know what he (Makinde) would do for the young citizens and their parents in compensation after their release from the criminal gang of abductors,” it said.
The opposition party further faulted the governor for allegedly failing to address the recent abduction of three employees of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the measures being taken to secure their release.
“Also, the public wanted to know the circumstances surrounding the fresh abduction of the three staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and efforts being put in place to rescue them, as well as ensuring that surging insecurity is permanently addressed in the state.
“It is right to say that good governance went on holiday on May 29, 2019, while the far cry which replaced it has also been disabled because Makinde feels a need to waste public resources on a misplaced ambition.
“Meanwhile, the governor should remember that he has said that no new contract would be awarded by his administration from December 31, 2025, and the fresh idea of N21 billion spending on the moribund and looted Agbowo Shopping Complex should be buried immediately.”