A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, has pleaded with the state governor, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi to ensure the implementation of two cardinal programmes before his exit in the next one year.
A statement issued by the Seyi Makinde Organisation and signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, a copy of which was made available to Insight Oyo, stated that celebrating Democracy Day will be meaningless and deceitful if government fails to pay all entitlements of workers and pensioners in the state as well as offset a substantial amount of the debt owed both externally and domestically before leaving office.
“Engr Seyi Makinde is of the opinion that if well managed and all loopholes created by government officials and their collaborators are tightened, the resources that come to Oyo state is enough to run an effective government that will cater for the aged, pay salaries and pensions, provide meaningful sources of livelihood for the youths and still have enough for relevant infrastructures as well as resuscitate education, health care and agriculture,” the statement added.
While noting that he will not dabble into the crisis within the APC, the ruling party, he observed that all the warring groups took part in a conspiracy of silence while goverment engaged in a reckless spree of borrowing that has left the state with an unprecedented debt of N130bn with 70% of it coming in the last 2 years with nothing to show for it.
Makinde warned that APC government owes the people of the state explanation why the security of lives and property are no longer guaranteed across the state with recent killings and brigandage in Ibadan metropolis and broad daylight robbery and kidnapping in Oke ogun area of the state despite humongous amount committed to Security by the ruling government.
He questioned why the government is still owing workers in the state since March despite steady increase in oil price in International market which has also positively affected the monthly federal allocation to Oyo state.
He said further that a state like Oyo where Government is the biggest employer of labour cannot afford to owe salaries which will have adverse effect on market men and women.
Makinde assured the people particularly the youths, the aged and the working class that Oyo state will revert to its enviable position instead of being refered to as the 5th most indebted state in the federation.
