You’ve Given Us What So-Called Progressives Couldn’t Give Us – Ahmed Raji To Makinde

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ahmed Raji, has praised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for his administration’s developmental projects in Iseyin and the wider Oke Ogun area, declaring that the governor has delivered what previous administrations that called themselves progressives failed to provide.

Raji, who is the President of the Oke Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF), spoke at the commissioning and handover of the Alhaji Kazeem Owonikoko Building at L.A. Primary School, Oke Esa, Iseyin, which he donated to the state government.

“When those who call themselves progressives were in government, they didn’t give us this. You came and gave us what they could not,” he said.

He commended Makinde for infrastructure projects, including the Moniya-Iseyin Road, Oyo-Iseyin Road and Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road, as well as the establishment of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources, a campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, in Iseyin.

Raji also appealed to the governor to grant the Iseyin campus autonomy as a full-fledged university, saying the people of Oke Ogun appreciate the administration’s contributions to education and infrastructure.

Responding, Makinde said his government would begin the necessary process towards granting the campus autonomy, including an application to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and a sustainability study.

“Regarding your request on the Iseyin Campus of LAUTECH becoming an autonomous university, we will go through the process. We will apply through the NUC, and I will carry out a sustainability study too. So, what you have asked for is done,” the governor said.

The governor also praised Raji for transforming the 92-year-old L.A. Primary School with a new building equipped with classrooms, offices, solar power, desks, chairs and modern learning gadgets.

Makinde described the facility as a world-class educational project and urged well-meaning individuals to support government efforts in education and community development.

“This building can stand anywhere in the world. It shows that no government can do everything alone. Those who are blessed must support the education of our children,” he said.

He reiterated that his administration would continue to develop Oyo State without discrimination based on political affiliation, stressing that development rather than party loyalty remained its priority.

Makinde also disclosed that the sugar factory near Fasola Farms in Iseyin was undergoing test running, adding that improved road networks had helped make the project viable.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also commended Raji for the donation and urged stakeholders to support the Makinde administration.

“I am happy to witness a day like this. This is a very good project from my respected colleague. I want to add that all of us need to join hands together to keep supporting Governor Seyi Makinde,” Fagbemi said.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; a retired Supreme Court Justice, Abdul Aboki; and the member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Shina Oyedeji.

Other dignitaries included the Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole; Head of Service, Adenike Fashina; and other government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and political stakeholders.