Former Minister of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu, has openly condemned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde’s recent budget of N63bn meant for the renovation of the Government House in Oyo State.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Shittu, openly disagreed with Makinde, who claimed that the high cost of the renovation is as a result of foreign exchange volatility in the country.
“I still disagree with him. When you talk of foreign exchange volatility, what we do know is that of late, in fact, there has been stability in foreign exchange situation of the country. Thanks to the economic policies of Mr President.”
Speaking on what is more important, Shittu insisted that Makinde must focus more on the lives of the people in Oyo State, rather than renovating the Government House.
“Secondly, we’re talking if prioritization. What is the priority? Is the government house more important than the lives of the ordinary men and women on the streets of Oyo State? The lives of the people we have sworn to protect is more important. I mean, it must be emphasized. Government House renovation must come last.”
Describing the Governor’s move as “stupendous”, Shittu alleged that the Governor has not lived in the Government House for the past six years.
“The man is exposed by the fact that he didn’t even feel it necessary to live there for the past six years that he has been governor. It was not necessary for him to live there. So what is the urgency? Who is he bringing in to replace him that requires that type of stupendous expenditure?”.
Speaking further on other state projects, Shittu emphasized on the need to focus on other things in the state.
“There are so many communities in Ibadan which do not have schools. I know of a road in Onara which is being maintained by an individual. In several communities. There are no roads. Should that not be important than the pressure of a governor? So I still believe that it is a suspicious expenditure, which is more likely aimed at ‘sleazing’ the people of Oyo State”, he stated.
Speaking on the APC’s stance on the issue, Shittu stated that the APC will continue to publicly oppose Governor Makinde and his renovation plans.
“Our business is to cry out loud and make the public know that we are opposing him. It is for EFCC to come in. I know that sooner or later, the EFCC will have a lot of work to do in Oyo State. And the people of Oyo will react very soon.”
Reacting to Governor Makinde’s claim that it is difficult to speak truth to power in the current presidency, Shittu said, “this is a man who is an ingrate. He got his second term ticket by the grace of Mr President. I’m sorry I have to say this, but it is the truth. So if he says he is talking truth, he is not the only one. Even APC elements offer contrary opinions to issues, of course, we have been doing that.
“We have a National Assembly which is very boisterous, which is made up of states men who have all the courage to tell us the truth. Either in line with the president or offering different perspectives. For instance, when the New Tax Laws first came, of course there were oppositions, even from Zulu, an ardent supporter of Mr President. You don’t oppose a policy for the sake of opposing. If you have a superior argument, you give it, and then, it will be considered.”
When asked his opinion on how Makinde can debunk these controversies and rebuild trust, Shittu said, “unfortunately for Makinde, he is one person who cannot sustain friendship from morning till night. I have been his friend over the years. In fact, there were certain suggestions I had made to him that he took some of them. I was the one who suggested to him, for instance, to open the space from Iseyin to Ogbomoso, from Iseyin to Eruwa. And he agreed with one aspect of it; the Iseyin – Ogbomoso road which he constructed. The other one he has not constructed. It is for him to know that Nigeria is nobody’s property. Oyo State is nobody’s property.”
Addressing Makinde’s claim that governors were not informed of the new tax laws, Shittu insisted that it is not a constitutional requirement for the federal government to keep governors aware of new policies.
” Must the governors be privy to every law that the Federal Government makes? Is that a constitutional requirement? Who is privy to laws that he (Makinde) makes in his state?”, he said.
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