WORKERS' DAY MEMO TO OYO STATE GOVT. by Seyi Makinde Organization

We wish to congratulate oyo state workers on this auspicious occasion of the celebration of Workers' Day.
We are all aware that there is very little to celebrate given the regrettable fortunes of our workers and those who have retired.
Yet we need to congratulate ourselves that we are alive and are HOPEFUL.

Government business is serious business and anyone who aspires to lead must know from the outset that actions or inactions of those entrusted with power can wittingly or otherwise affect directly, the livelihood of the toiling workers in a very profound way, the very fabric upon which their fulfillment and hopes are hinged.

No time can be more auspicious than today May 1st, to bring to the notice of the leaders of government on behalf of the workers and indeed all citizens of Oyo State, the deliberate and unholy silence being employed by the State government over serious allegations bothering on fiscal recklessness and mis-governance that is taken its toll on the masses.

While this exercise is not out to embarrass the current administration, the consequences of sweeping the allegations under the carpet is even graver both for our beleaguered polity and indeed for our future.

In the words of the renowned Physicist, Albert Einstein, 'The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything' and I dare say, by those who criticise for its sake without offering solutions. In this specific instance, the solution is transparency and accountability. Period!

For these reasons and more, we strongly appeal and challenge leaders of thoughts including the labour movement and civil societies to rise above partisan politics and in one voice ask the present administration to respond publicly to the following questions that have been raised variously in public domain in the past six weeks and to which government has been uncharacteristically silent.

1. The present administration borrowed N4.8bn in 2011, N11.7bn in 2012, N19.1bn in 2013, N12.9 in 2014, why did the debt profile jump to N47.4bn in 2015? (Public Finance Statistics, Statistical Bulletin,  Central Bank of Nigeria, 2016).

2. More dramatically, in spite of FAAC allocation of N44.4bn in 2017 and an IGR of N22.4bn in the same year, why did our debt profile frog jump from N47.4bn two years ago to a spiraling N130bn, quoting figures from the Internally Generated Revenue at State Level Report (t, published by the National Bureau of Statistics, March, 2018. Indeed and to be more precise, ($93,218,640 million) N28.492bn multilateral debt added to the N129.2bn domestic debt makes a total of N157.7bn that hangs on our neck like an albatross in a debt burden yet unsurpassed in the annals of Oyo state since inception in 1976. And for a fact, this represents over 232.7%% increase or N110.3bn over and above the 2015 debt! This government since inauguration in 2011 has borrowed well over N157.7 billion. What does Oyo state have to justify this humongous debt?

Mark Twain said 'Facts are stubborn things but statistics are pliable’ but the only difference is, these are scientific facts published by credible and accredited custodians of statistics in Nigeria.

3. If Oyo state has this awesome war chest why are the over 10,000 retired primary school teachers owed N27bn over the past 17 to 56 months and left to rot while the fate of serving teachers are not any better?

4. Why are there such dislocations in schools infrastructures, in the quality of education and general motivation and well being of teachers and staff at the secondary school level also? Why are primary schools teachers still being owed backlog of salaries and allowances. This saddens the heart because primary schools serve as the foundation and fulcrum for educational development of our children. Where is the future? Oyo state should not be allowed to be a fertile land for the growth of hopeless youth with bleak future.

5. Why are the four Teaching Hospitals, 27 General Hospitals, numerous health clinics and centres and two Nursing schools in such parlous state leading to virtual grounding of health care facilities in a state that once boasted of one of the best health care systems in Nigeria?

6. Why is there more focus on grandeous infrastructures, particularly selective and far-in-between road constructions in the metropolis as if that is what our finance can afford?

7. As indiscreet as the project was, why was so much money expended on the promised N6bn so called Five Star Hotel  on Mokola hill. Particularly APC government owes members of the public explanation on how its equity contribution of N600million naira was spent on the project when government knew that it will only grow weeds and abandoned six years after the foundation was laid amidst glitz and fanfare?

8. And the Igbetti Mining Corporation. Where have all the promises gone?

9. Oke Ogun was specifically promised the hub of agrarian revolution with highways and feeder roads to fulfil the prospect of optimising the 28,454 square kilometres. Why did it become a pipe dream? Agric Oyo was inaugurated in Iseyin with fanfare yet no single seed has germinated on the farm let alone harvesting the farm produce. Okerete trans border International Market was promised to be built in Saki. It remains a dream till this day.

Iseyin nay Oke-Ogun despite giving the ruling party highest votes in 2015 Election outside Ibadan were promised : (a) Technical University satellite Campus.(b) Aso-Oke International Market where billions of Naira was promised would be expended to empower local traders. None of the above has been fulfilled till date.

10. And the much hyped Ibadan Circular Road?

Other questions that must be asked on Workers' Day are where has all the money gone and
What will be our debt profile by the time this administration leaves office next year?

Signed 

SEYI MAKINDE ORGANISATION

OYO 2019. HOW APC (IED) WILL EXPLODE

OYO 2019: HOW APC (IED) WILL EXPLODE:

With about 300 days to the 2019 general elections, Oyo State APC is posed to be the weakest incumbent in history and the self made explosives are about to blow up within the party. Like the APC at the national, the Oyo State chapter has mismanaged the goodwill it garnered in the first term election and the Governor has done more to control the party stalwarts than to lead them to a destination of mutual benefits; the electoral victory. Mr. Governor, like President Buhari has refused to be the father of all and preferred to just nurture and groom his sect or faction only.

With the precarious state of the party at the national, it is obvious that the national leaders have their plates full and can't have the luxury of time to mediate in the problems of Oyo State, at least not until after the national convention. The outcome of the national convention itself is another explosion, waiting to happen.

The Unity Forum: according to the communiqué released after the group's meeting in Ibadan over the weekend,  admitted the Oyo State APC is in comatose and needs external interference. The group alleged the Governor of high mindedness and favouritism, something which the oppositions have always mentioned. The Unity Forum is an amalgamation of the dissenting and dissatisfied voices within the state chapter of the party. The caliber of party members that graced the meeting suggests the explosive device has started tickling.

Hon Dapo Lam Adesina: the Omoolore was also quoted to have expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs of the party in the state, that was his first time of publicly expressing his dissatisfaction about how the Governor, whom he often calls Daddy runs the affairs of the state as a "one man show".

The LG elections: the coming local government election in Oyo state is another fuel that will aid the explosion of the IED manufactured by the governor. The candidates for this election are all from the Governor's camp and that is enough to make the election unsuccessful, in terms of acceptance. This has queried the internal democracy of the party and the Governor and his followers don't seem to see need for compromise.

LOOMING PARALLEL CONGRESES: With the stand of the Unity Forum, the coast seems clear for at least two parallel congresses in the Oyo State APC. The Congresses are slated to start in a few days and the meeting of the Unity Forum is to forewarn the national Secretariat of the impending danger; the comatose is the brief quietness before the IED explodes.

APC ABUJA VERSUS APC IBADAN: Remember that Barr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister for Communication wrote a petition against the way the Governor runs the state and party? Now, the likes of Prof Adeolu Akande, Sen Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, Hon Dapo Adesina, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun and many other Federal appointees have joined forces together to express their dissatisfaction. It is important to note the influence these group wedge in Oyo state, apart from their proximity to the national Secretariat. Prof Adeolu Akande, for instance enjoys great goodwill from the youths in Oyo State and Hon Dapo Adesina is a friend of the youths. It is obvious that these great politicians can't pitch their tent against their party and the party will remain whole; it will definitely explode into INCONSEQUENTIAL fragments.

APC will obviously go in history as the shortest lived political party and all major groups within the party have alternative parties they are romancing presently.

It's a matter of time, what is apparent shall be obvious.

SEYI MAKINDE TELLS PMB TO APOLOGISE TO NIGERIAN YOUTHS

The gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP in Oyo The gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP in Oyo state Engr Seyi Makiinde has registered his disappointment at the description of Nigerian youths as lazy and indolent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued by the Seyi Makinde Organisation and signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, Seyi Makinde said that the remark credited to the Nigerian President at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster, London is the most unkind  description of the long suffering Nigerian youths at a time when they are bearing the brunt of unprecedented misrule by the older generation which include the military rule of the Gen. Muhammad Buhari whose tenure contributed immensely to the destruction of educational sector particularly the tertiary Education.

Makinde, quoting the President that '' More than 60% of the population is below 30, a lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil-producing country therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free.''

According to him, the hitherto respected and loved President displayed utter insensitivity and total lack of knowledge about the predicament confronting the Nigerian youths at this period. The Nigerian youths, at least from this part of the country are the exact opposite of the unfortunate profiling of President Buhari as majority of them are well educated but deprived and made poor by uncaring policies of government.

Makinde said that even those youths who do not possess formal education are well trained artisans who are willing to contribute their quota to the development of their father land but are not given a chance to live decently.

The statement asked, 'Is it the fault of the youths that the government of oyo state had a debt profile of N47bn in 2015 suddenly jumped to N116bn within one year? Is it the fault of the youths that lip service to education has resulted in scanty and demotivated teachers, dilapidated school buildings, moribund healthcare system and stealing of public money?

According to him, the youths are angry with Mr President and he should not think it is beneath him to offer public apology for such unfortunate statement Engr Seyi Makiinde has registered his disappointment at the description of Nigerian youths as lazy and indolent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued by the Seyi Makinde Organisation and signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, Seyi Makinde said that the remark credited to the Nigerian President at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster, London is the most unkind  description of the long suffering Nigerian youths at a time when they are bearing the brunt of unprecedented misrule by the older generation which include the military rule of the Gen. Muhammad Buhari whose tenure contributed immensely to the destruction of educational sector particularly the tertiary Education.

Makinde, quoting the President that '' More than 60% of the population is below 30, a lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil-producing country therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free.''

According to him, the hitherto respected and loved President displayed utter insensitivity and total lack of knowledge about the predicament confronting the Nigerian youths at this period. The Nigerian youths, at least from this part of the country are the exact opposite of the unfortunate profiling of President Buhari as majority of them are well educated but deprived and made poor by uncaring policies of government.

Makinde said that even those youths who do not possess formal education are well trained artisans who are willing to contribute their quota to the development of their father land but are not given a chance to live decently.

The statement asked, 'Is it the fault of the youths that the government of oyo state had a debt profile of N47bn in 2015 suddenly jumped to N116bn within one year? Is it the fault of the youths that lip service to education has resulted in scanty and demotivated teachers, dilapidated school buildings, moribund healthcare system and stealing of public money?

According to him, the youths are angry with Mr President and he should not think it is beneath him to offer public apology for such unfortunate statement

OYO 2019. 317 DAYS TO GO AND STATUS CHECK

So many things are happening in the various political parties and the tackles and momentum are increasing daily; those challenges of party leadership and positioning for the emergence of candidates. The APC, PDP, SDP, AD, ACCORD are presently the major political parties in Oyo State. The Alliance for Democracy seems to have displaced the Labour Party in the first 5 political parties in Oyo State.

APC: Gov Ajimobi holds the ace in Oyo state APC but if the appointment of the Federal boards is anything to go bye, then he holds the ace in Oyo State while someone else holds it in Abuja. The much delayed local government election in Oyo State is slated for May 12, 2019 but the major opposition party is withdrawing from it, due to credibility issues. In Oyo state, the APC is fractured along the 3 lines of SENACO, LAMISTS and the BAS (Adebayo Shittu) factions. However, the Prof Akande group has been romancing all the groups and that's why we are not treating him as a separate group, though he is a powerful force in Oyo State APC. All these groups are not going to agree on candidates for the governorship and the time bomb might go off just before the national convention is over. Definitely, there will be parallel congresses in the state but can the crises management skills of the governor navigate through to a safe harbour? Also of important consideration is the fact that non of the serving Senators in Oyo State will make the list of candidates for second term. The Governor has declared the intention to run for Senate in the Oyo South district, Sen Monsurat Sumonu of Oyo central is not in the good books of the Governor. Chief Alao Akala will probably display Sen Buhari from the Oyo North district, though he has declared for the governorship. The APC implosion is imminent but will they survive it?

PDP: the overall leader of the PDP in Oyo state, High Chief Ladoja has served the party his withdrawal notice and there are speculations of the romance with Alliance for Democracy in Oyo State. Sen Ladoja claims "impunity" is the reason for his departure but we all know the word impunity has been redefined to mean anything that doesn't favour the complainant. The Seyi Makinde camp, as it is now called has been making reconciliatory comments and plea but the declaration of departure is due for today, Wednesday 18, 2019. Indications from the OmiTitun camp suggests that there will be swift adjustment to the departure as soon as the declaration is made; they will move to neutralize the effects and chart a victory course immediately. One thing that will work for PDP is the fact that the implosion came early; about 9 months to the general elections. Closeness to election before implosion and decamping always have adverse effects on the political parties. Parties apart, the aspirant of PDP; Engr Seyi Makinde is the most favoured opposition figure to unseat the APC in Oyo State and his ever increasing public profile in Oyo State would likely neutralise the moral burden the national party is battling with.

AD: This party was rejuvenated when the opposition parties came together to return to PDP late last year; it was part of the parties who shared posts in the wards, local governments and state executive. Though the stalwarts of the party came out to denounce any merging with PDP in Oyo state but what is done is done. However, with the presence of Hon Babs Oduyoye, Hon Onigbinde and Baba Michael Koleoso in the party, the party stands a very good change of full recovery in the state. With the rumoured decamping of Ladoja and his followers to AD, no doubt the party will come close to PDP in relevance at the state level though we don't know about the structures across the wards in the state. The profile and goodwill of the candidate that emerges for the governorship will go a long way in projecting the party further.

SDP: the favoured party for the third force and the party in which Engr Seyi Makinde contested for 2015 gubernatorial election is warming up in Oyo State. Though their activities since the departure of their former candidate have been very low buy the merging of a group from the PDP at the national with the party promises to revive their activities nationwide. The national intervention movement NIM and the Obasanjo third force are pitching their tent with the SDP too. Definitely, the SDP will become a third force but it is too early to determine how powerful this third force will be in Oyo State.

ACCORD: This is the party Chief Ladoja left to return to PDP late last year. Though the likes of Hon Ajaja stayed back in the party and have since adjusted to the exit of the Ibadan high Chief and his followers. There are jingles and adverts to announce the party activities; obviously to make the public aware of the continued existence of the party in the state. Though this party was popularised by Chief Ladoja nationally, it's the profile and goodwill the candidate has with the public that will determine it's performance at the elections

As at this morning, the contest is strictly between whoever emerges in APC as candidate versus Engr Seyi Makinde of PDP because the coast seems so clear for him as the PDP candidate now. How early the candidates emerge in the other parties will go a long way in brightening their chances too. There is suspicion in some quarters that Chief Ladoja still want to contest but we can tell the public categorically that he made his intention not to contest public early in the year.

Who succeeds Gov Ajimobi in 2019 is an open race but the parties are in precarious state as at this morning. However, by the end of this month of April, the picture shall be clearer and we hope aspirants for other offices will be more noticeable.

Anyhow, Agodi government House is vacant prior to 2019.

Adeniyi Rotimi Johnson (Ojasope)

SHITTU VERSUS SOWORE AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL BATTLE

SHITTU VERSUS SOWORE AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL BATTLE:

The studio encounter between the serving Minister of Communication and the publisher of the Sahara Reporters was as interesting as it was revealing; it revealed the stuff both men are made of. It was amusing that the minister could not marshal his points, he became inarticulate and public jester in the mid of heated arguments; what a pity.
I was a House of Representative candidate in 2011 when Barr Adebayo Shittu was the governorship candidate of our party and I had the opportunity of working with him closely. One thing I knew and respected him for, was his ability to articulate his point and very good outing in debates. However, I was disappointed during the ministerial screening because his performance was far below my expectations but I ignored it. Since then, he has been in one controversy or the other.

It was apparent from the altercations in the studio that "the Bayo you can trust " had lost the trust and was afraid of Omoyele Sowore. Mr Minister didn't treat issues at all but focused more on discrediting the young man but unfortunately, there was no genuine case to establish distrust, so he focused on age difference and experience. Mr Minister either came unprepared or he grossly underestimated the guy. One thing is obvious, the fact that the Sahara Reporters published indicting things about the minister were not treated and the Minister didn't mention or address any of the issues the publication raised against him.

Barr Adebayo Shittu lost his boldness before a young man he claimed to be inconsequential; he's inconsequential and you could not establish how inconsequential. He's inconsequential and you could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are consequential. He's inconsequential and you are in the studio with the publisher of allegations raised against you and none of the issues were raised. Please, who exactly is inconsequential between Mr Sowore and Barr Shittu?

Someone asked me if I am supporting Sowore for President and I didn't answer him but this is my answer now: I am just so excited with what him and Fela Durotoye are doing; whether they become President or not, our polity can never remain the same again. They have started what will consume the "inconsequential politicians" who parade themselves as alpha and Omega of this nation and until this kind of upsets spring up, we will remain at the mercy of our empire wreckers and the analog rulers in the digital generation.

No doubt by 2019, Barr Adebayo Shittu will become the former Minister of Communication as Mr Sowore prophesied, Sowore will still be publisher and Nigerians will triumph over the oppressive generation of rulers without ideas, who only succeeded in impoverishing our people and degrading our paternity. They divided the division further and put our nation on the edge.

QUOTE: "The man with facts can never be at the mercy of the man with argument" -Ojasope

IN CASE YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS SEYI MAKINDE IN PUBLIC (Part 1 & 2) By Hon Kehinde Ayoola JP

The buzz word among the grassroots people in Oyo State now is :

Seyi o s'ekan ri, e jeki Seyi o se'yi

That is the heart cry or battle cry of the Oppressed masses to some powerful political gatekeepers in our state who are the ones opposing Seyi's Guber ambition for their selfish reasons.

Pls note the following for your discussions of Engr Makinde's Guber bid:

Seyi Makinde is educated enough, exposed and enlightened enough to know that being a newcomer, he has to *run on a comprehensive, pragmatic, solid, achievable and germane program that gives economic and social relief to the people* and not on a mere wishful and hollow slogan of *I've not done it before*

This corpus of programs has been articulated in his Operation HEAPS

H - Healthcare'that places emphasis on affordability and primary healthcare bcos prevention is better than cure

E - Education that runs in tandem with the needs of 21st Century placing emphasis on teacher welfare and provision of adequate infrastructure with the overall aim of producing graduates that are not only employable but that are themselves employers of labour.

A - Agricultural Renaissance with emphasis on value - chain addition in products where we have comparative advantage as a state.

P - Physical Infrastructure where roads, water, electricity, housing etc shall be provided in a manner that takes note of their economic benefits to the people.
Seyi's administration will show what is really meant by  local contents in public procurement.

S - Security which uses the vast world of ICT like barcode numbers, community policing using the latest GIS tools etc and which transcends mere purchase of pickup trucks and walkie talkies .

We have to engage the public with adequate information on our Principal.

(Part 2)

Let us now take the Operation HEAPS apart one by one.

Starting from agriculture bcos that should be our own crude oil in Oyo State.

Our state has about 17,000 sq km of arable land. Arable land is land that is cultivable i.e. that could be used for planting.

This can support a variety of crops like maize, cassava, soya, rice, yam and a number of vegetables.

The major stumbling block in the way of constant availability of food is storage. By their nature, agric produce are perishable so you need a system of keeping them fresh and available.
That is where storage and preservation come in.

In the National Food Security Program the Federal Govt, in concurrence with States and LGs has a storage infrastructural responsibility.

Under it, the FG is to build 33,000 metric tonnes capacity silos in each of the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
33,000 metric tonnes translates to 1,100 trailer truck loads

States are to build what is called a buffer stock of  11,000 metric tons silos (about 366 trailer loads).

This is where Oyo State comes in.
Our own storage facility has been abandoned at Awe in Afijio LG.

This will be a cardinal agric program of a Seyi Makinde govt.

It opens up business and job opportunities for all sorts of individuals like:

Farmers

Transporters (haulage)

Dryer operators etc.
as well as artisans like carpenters, bricklayers, iron benders etc.

We will examine crop and animal  production in my next communication.

Good morning.

Omi Tuntun Igba Otun!

Kehinde Ayoola JP