The gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State in the 2019 general elections, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has lamented the abysmal performance of the current administration in the State under the leadership of the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, saying that the Governor’s performance so far fell short of the expectations of the majority of the people compared to campaign promises he made during the build up to the election in 2019.
Bayo Adelabu said that no stone would be left unturned in his determination to restore the state to its pacesetting status and correct all the anomalies being perpetrated under the Makinde led administration if elected as Governor come 2023.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Deputy Governor noted that his gubernatorial ambition is intended to enrich politics with ethics, to mix the soil of knowledge and professional competence with water of experiences in the service of humanity, promising to give practical expressions to ideals of humanity in the state.
According to him, “you will all recollect that I contested for the governorship of Oyo state in 2019 and I lost the election under very controversial circumstances that almost heated the polity of the state but for my love for peace and tranquility in Oyo State and, Nigeria as a whole, I, therefore, decided to pursue the part of the rule of law instead of the rule of violence and thuggery by approaching the courts and we pursued the matter up to the Supreme Court. That action was to clearly show that I am a man that abhors violence and thuggery. I vehemently abhor the dictates of a one-man dictatorship.
“I and our great party wanted a land of peace in Oyo State just as our late leader, Abiola Ajimobi abhorred violence and brought peace to bear in Oyo State for the eight years he governed the state”.
Speaking further at a press conference heralding his weeķ long official declaration for the 2023 gubernatorial poll held at his campaign office, Jericho in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, Adelabu said the Seyi Makinde-led government in the state is failing daily and woefully on fundamental departments of government business, especially that of security of lives and properties which he said is a distant achievement for the current government.
According to him, “Makinde’s government has enthroned thuggery and hooliganism as the official controllers of Oyo State. The indigenes and residents in the Pacesetter state can not sleep with their two eyes closed not to talk of doing businesses of life with peace and progress. The Excellency of Government is no longer excellent in Oyo State in the light of our sordid performance in the Environment, Education, Health, Security, and Agriculture among others”, he said.
He further lamented that the hitherto neat environment has become sanitary eyesores, saying “heap of refuse is everywhere in the medians of the majority of roads in the blessed City of Ibadan”.
“The government thinks he can convince anybody with his fluke performance by the provision of street lights in salient places. It is even paradoxical that the Engineer in control of the state is powering street lights with generators instead of Solar Lights that are the order of the modern century.”
Adelabu also expressed concern over the poor quality of education in the state, which he claimed is far from the excellency of this government.
“Public schools have become mangers for goats and animals despite the recorded fact that Governor attended public schools. The Teachers are unmotivated but this Government thinks the exterior satisfaction of salary can give motivation to teachers. What a messy scene in the affairs of the Oyo public schools. Oyo state must reclaim its lost glory by reducing out-of-school children and making primary and secondary education, unlike tertiary education, free and compulsory. There should be plans in place to upgrade the decrepit primary and secondary schools”.
The APC guber hopeful, however assured residents that he will deliver the state from the shackles of poverty as well as the insensitive of the Seyi Makinde-led Oyo State government.
The press conference was well attended by party leaders including the immediate past Chairman of the party in the State, Chief Akin Oke who was represented by Hon. Lekan Adeyemo, the factional Chairman of the party in the State, Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, former Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Gunju Ojo, former Majority leader, Hon. Oyeniyi Oyeniran, former Senator Ayo Adeseun, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Saheed Fijabi, Chief Akinade Fijabi, other party faithful and supporters were also in attendance.
