Re: Blaming Makinde for Nationwide Hardship a Proof Alli is Incompetent: Let Us Remove The Log of Wood in Makinde’s Eyes First | Sola Abegunde
Re: Blaming Makinde for Nationwide Hardship a Proof Alli is Incompetent : Let Us Remove The Log of Woods in Makinde’s Eyes First.
For Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the position of the Governor of a state is an irresponsible position, occupied by irresponsible people, but that is not the case.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria created the position of the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation and gave them roles, just as the same Constitution created the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the 774 Local Government Chairmen and these offices were assigned Constitutional roles.
I know that in Oyo state, Governor Seyi Makinde is the Governor and the class captain for the 33 Local Government Chairmen.
So, if the Chief spokesperson for the Governor gets confused at times, we have to understand and forgive him for his display of stark ignorance when discussing certain National and Constitutional issues.
By the way, I noticed that he has not been bold enough to respond to my piece where I lectured him about how Local Governments are being administered.
He will never dare. Facts are sacrosanct. You could only play with diction when and where you have space.
I just finished reading another of his meaningless essays and I will address two or three issues he raised.
Governor Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media and I think he is also the head of the Bimbo Adekanbi’s Media, is of the warped opinion that the hardship Nigerians are facing today is rooted in national macroeconomic decisions which he claimed, have reshaped fiscal landscape for every state and that any attempts to localise these challenges is not only misleading, but fundamentally dishonest.
According to him, Nigeria’s current economic situation is not the result of state level governance failures. It is the direct consequence of National policy choices that have transformed the fiscal environment across the Federation.
I am surprised that, in defense of Governor Seyi Makinde’s illegal withdrawals of funds belonging to the 33 Local Governments, Dr. Olanrewaju still thinks that the judgment of the Supreme Court which is yet to be enforced by the Federal Government would avail his Principal from criminal liabilities.
That is far from the truth. Regardless of the judgment of the Supreme Court, there is no law in Nigeria that empowers the Governor of a state to sit on the resources meant for the developments of the Local Governments.
Not only that, there is no law that empowers a state Governor to make withdrawals from funds belonging to the Local Governments for whatever reasons.
I think Governor Makinde’s spokesperson will not be convinced about this fact until his principal loses immunity from prosecution and begins to answer to allegations of misappropriation of funds belonging to the Local Governments.
If you examine the position of Sulaimon Olanrewaju critically, you will see that he is trying to absorb Governor Seyi Makinde from any responsibility for the hardship in Oyo state.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is a Federation that is operating in units. We have three tiers of Government, with each of the tiers of Government given specific roles.
It seems like this salient fact is lost on Governor Seyi Makinde and Olanrewaju is either also unaware of this elementary fact or, he is just doing his job, regardless of the facts.
As of today, in certain parts of Northern Nigeria, grains, pepper, tomatoes, yam and other food items are so cheap.
Not only that, in Oyo state, we still depend on these Northern states for the supplies of tomatoes, pepper, grains, like, beans and corn, yam, onions, potatoes and other food items.
Let me ask Dr. Olanrewaju, are those states not part of the Nigerian Federation? Are they not also affected by the macroeconomic decisions of the Federal Government which he was referring to?
How is it that they are still able to feed their people and yet, still have enough to sell in a state like Oyo state? The answer is very simple. Those states are not paying lips service to Agriculture as we have been doing in Oyo state. They are intentionally committed to Agriculture and they are having results.
I am not done. A couple of days ago, hip hop artiste, Davido, celebrated the feat recorded by Osun state in this year’s NECO. Osun state ranked 5th, maybe 6th while Oyo ranked 27th!
What does Governor Makinde have to say to that? Oh, that must also be one of the effects of national macroeconomic decisions. Isn’t it?
Presently in Oyo state, Okad riders, Marwa riders and commercial motorists are being made to pay all manner of levies in thousands of Naira. They pay for waste baskets which are never provided for them. They pay over fifteen thousand Naira for a jacket that sells for around two thousand Naira. They pay for all manner of tickets and the most unfortunate part of this story is that, the monies realized from these multiple taxes are always funneled to private pockets.
What are the expected consequences of these wickedness on the local economy? Will Olanrewaju speak to that?
What are the consequences of Governor Makinde’s incessant borrowings, over bloated contracts, contract variations on the local economy?
Governor Seyi Makinde is not only depriving the Local Governments of their monthly allocations, he has also sold off most, if not all of the inherited assets belonging to the Local Governments.
For the avoidance of doubts, he has sold off most, if not all of the Graders, Tractors, Borehole drilling machines and refuse trucks his Government inherited without buying replacements and now, Local Governments are hiring Graders to grade rural roads. How does that affect the local economy? Positively?
The present Government in Oyo state is undoubtedly the most reckless and the facts are there to support this opinion. So, what is Olanrewaju trying to tell us?
In Agriculture, it is zero activity. In health, nothing to write home about. Doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH are said to have been on strike for about 32 days now. Who should be blamed for that?
The Broadcasting Corporations of Oyo state, BCOS is dying by the day. Staffs and pensioners are complaining about non payment of salaries and pension. Is that boosting the local economy? Should we also blame the national macroeconomic decisions for that?
The Federal Government had decentralized the power sector. How has Oyo state leveraged on that?
How many cottage Industries have been established in Oyo state in the past seven years plus of Governor Makinde’s administration?
How will a reasonable human being overlook these facts and the fact that we are a Federating units, with each tier of Government given responsibilities under the Constitution and yet, you think the hardship we are experiencing in Oyo state is caused by national macroeconomic decisions?
Sometimes, I don’t envy Pastor Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
There is no time I saw him doing this dirty job and my mind would not wonder to Amos 3:3. Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Sola Abegunde.