Cheshire Home Land: Your Claims Speculative – Makinde Dismisses SSACO’s Land Sale Deal Claims

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has denied allegations of a secret decision or unlawful action concerning the Cheshire Home land in Eleyele, Ibadan, insisting that his administration remains committed to transparency, due process and public interest.

The governor’s response followed a statement by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), which warned against the reported sale or allocation of the land to private developers.

In a statement signed by Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, the government described SSACO’s claims as speculative and unsupported by evidence, saying no secret decision had been taken on the matter.

The statement, issued on Tuesday, accused the campaign organisation of using alarmist rhetoric and political narratives to create unnecessary anxiety among residents over the Cheshire Home property.

It also linked SSACO’s position to the recent radio interview by Bimbo Adekanmbi, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Oyo State, alleging that the organisation had resorted to its familiar tactics following what it described as a dismantling of its narratives during the interview.

Makinde’s administration maintained that its decisions concerning government land and property were guided by due process, public interest and the state’s development needs.

The government said it recognised that public assets belonged to the people of Oyo State and rejected the suggestion that the governor treated such assets as personal possessions.

It also defended its record since 2019, citing investments in schools, hospitals, roads, security infrastructure and other public facilities as evidence of its commitment to public infrastructure and responsible asset management.

The statement further accused those criticising the administration of remaining silent when public assets allegedly suffered neglect in previous years, describing the latest intervention as politically motivated.

It urged SSACO and those behind its claims to ensure that public debate on governance was based on facts and verifiable evidence rather than speculation.

The government added that it remained focused on sustainable development, economic expansion and improved service delivery, and would not be distracted by what it called baseless allegations.

The response comes after SSACO raised concerns over the reported possibility of the Cheshire Home land in Eleyele being sold or allocated to private developers, calling for any such move to be halted and for greater transparency over the property.

The government’s statement did not specify whether any proposal concerning the land was under consideration, nor did it provide details of the property’s current status.