” Bi iro ba lo logun odun, ojo kan soso ni otito a baa”. ( The truth will catch up with a bunch of lies told twenty years apart, in just a day).
I must first register my sympathy with the victims of the unfortunate fire disaster at the Alesinloye market.
No one, except for God Almighty, in His infinite mercies, could and would give them peace and restore their great losses in miraculous ways.
It is unfortunate that despite the multiple rates and taxes collected from the hapless market men and women by both the Local and the state Governments, they have been let down when they needed the Government the most, to protect their properties from the inferno.
I have deliberately decided to delay my reaction to the unfortunate incident until I see the reactions of both the Government and the PDP.
I have read the Press release by the Oyo state All Progressives Congress through Alhaji Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC publicity secretary.
I have equally read the statement of ” empathy” by the Government of Oyo state.
I also read the annoying piece by Michael Ogunsina, Oyo state Acting PRO of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
I will deal with the unfortunate and annoying statement from the Oyo PDP first.
The toxic and abusive dictions contained in the PDP’s statement betrays the Party’s insensitivity to the magnitude of disaster that befell the affected marketers at Alesinloye under the watch of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Leader of the PDP in Oyo state.
The reckless and abusive statement by the Oyo PDP is not only lacking in remorse, it is condemnable and leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Let me say here, that I am not surprised at the reckless approach and the abusive nature of the PDP’s statement.
That is their stock in trade. They never show remorse and even if heavens are falling, they must play politics.
If anyone should be accused of drunkenness and insensitivity, it is the Oyo state Acting PRO of the PDP, who, at different times always jump on issues that he lacks both the capacity and the locus to defend.
Considering the helplessness of the Oyo state Government to respond positively and effectively to the fire outbreak at Alesinloye, methinks that the PDP should just accept responsibilities for the failures of the Makinde Government and be on its knees, begging the victims and citizens of Oyo state instead of spitting nonsense and adding insults upon injuries.
The diversionary tactics will not work this time around because when they go low, we will take the discussion higher, far above their gutter approach.
I will outline the failures of the Oyo state Government and back them up with verifiable facts later, when I’m done with the exuberance of Michael Ogunsina.
I read the annoying statement several times and I asked myself, what was Ogunsina expecting from Sadare?
That he, Sadare should be clapping for Makinde despite the shameful but glaring facts that the Oyo state Government was completely crippled and could not respond to the disaster?
I think the gentleman needs to seriously examine himself.
The fact that you have been selected to speak for a political party shouldn’t rob you of your dignity and sense of judgment.
What good would the verbal attacks on Sadare do to the ego of Governor Makinde and the PDP?
As for Governor Makinde, the victims and of course, citizens of Oyo state are not asking for sympathy.
They, the victims and of course, the citizens of Oyo state needs explanations and his acceptance of responsibilities for the failures of his Government to protect the properties of the marketers at Alesinloye.
Let me ask Governor Makinde, before I proceed. Did he and the Local Government Chairman showed sympathy when they were collecting multiple rates and taxes from the marketers?
We need Governor Makinde to explain to us, why there were no fire-resistant wears, active fire fighting vehicles and other necessary materials needed to combat fire outbreaks on ground.
We need the Governor to tell us why there was no single vehicle in the whole of Ibadan and why, frantic calls were being made to bring, is it water or fire fighting vehicle from Oyo town as being alleged by eye witnesses?
On the 24th of January, 2020, about six years ago, Governor Makinde was pictured with a funny crowd of his Olentelafas at far away Turkey.
According to the caption on the photograph, the Governor and his co travelers were supposedly shopping for firefighting equipments.
So, Governor Makinde, where was the firefighting equipments you shopped for in 2020 when Alesinloye went up in flames?
Now, we all know that the trip was just a wasteful jamboree like many others, embarked upon by Governor Makinde.
Everything was audio. Unfortunately, state resources were wasted on jamborees.
I think it is about time this Governor reflects on his love for jamborees and social media activities.
If he wasn’t playing Pickle balls, he was either running a marathon in America or pictured eating with all manner of lickspittles in foreign restaurants!
About a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a story where I alleged that Governor Makinde has been sanctioning the illegal sales of some Government assets despite the fact that he didn’t provide replacements.
I raised the issue of the ten (10) number of refuse trucks bought during the regime of late former Governor Alao Akala which were sold for just seventy million Naira. #70,000,000) by the Governor Makinde Administration.
I also wrote about the interview by “Mama Empowerment”, a former Governor Makinde’s appointee who claimed that for the two years she served as a member of the Oyo state Water Corporation Board, not a Kobo was released to back up the Budgets of the Board.
Now, it is apposite at this point to ask Governor Makinde if there has been budgetry provisions for the Oyo state Fire Service and if monies released to back up the Budgets.
Why is the Service so impotent to do anything at Alesinloye?
From available information, the disaster at Alesinloye would have been more terrible if not for the intervention of two privately owned Companies that allegedly saved the blushes of the Oyo state Fire Service!
I listened to the interview of one Hon. Moruf Akinwande who claimed that the Fire Service was crippled to respond because citizens used to attack firefighting vehicles and he even went further to seek the assistance of the public for the Fire Service!
Has things gone that bad? To the extent that we now do ” Bambi Allah” for the Fire Service of Oyo state?
How did we get to this terrible point?
Sadly, Governor Seyi Makinde is the one who wants everyone to believe that he is better than all his predecessors rolled into one, even when the statistics are pointing to the contrary.
I have thought about the reason why Governor Makinde has continued to enjoy the undeserved euphoria of a fantastic Governor and I see, without a doubt that the Press is complicit.
Governor Makinde has captured a larger percentage of the Media and compromised them to be blind to his failings and dumb to his incompetence.
Majority of those who should be following up on his fake promises and asking questions about his failures have been bought over with appointments and gifts of SUVs.
Sometimes, I used to wonder if those who have sold their conscience as a result of appointments and SUVs have forgotten that we once had a Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who not only prioritized workers welfare, but who also paid salaries without issues and also came up with a brilliant Education policy which ensured that not more than 30 pupils were accommodated in a single class room?
Not only that, he, Ladoja also prioritized appointments of Teachers and non Teaching staffs without making unnecessary noise about it?
I used to wonder if they have forgotten that Alao Akala not only bought a unique fire-resistant wears and state of the art aerial firefighting platform, but he also purchased operation vehicles for the Police and was the only Governor to equip the Police with Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) during his time?
That the same Alao Akala not only refurbished the Mapo Hall in 2008 but also remodeled the Lekan Salami Stadium Complex, constructed synthetic football pitch with tartan tracks and also started a 300-bed sports hostel and an Olympic size swimming pool?
That Akala not only established the College of Agriculture, Igboora, but he also established the Oyo state Road Traffic Management Authority ( OYRTMA)?
That Akala restarted the Oyo state Trans City Transport Company ( TCTC) after a long lull and neglect since 1992 when he injected a fleet of 50 Buses?
That Ajimobi, to his credit, established the Technical University?
I am surprised and sad that no one is asking Governor Makinde to give accounts for the monthly Allocations for the 33 Local Governments since 2019 and no one is demanding for the debts profile of the state.
Unlike any of his predecessors, Governor Seyi Makinde has done great damage to the resources of the 33 Local Governments.
Similarly, Governor Makinde is unrivalled in the act of reckless sales of Government Lands and assets.
Who is asking him questions about Agbowo, Light Up Oyo and the edified garages he built with billions of Naira?
You will think they are not aware of the shameful facts that the Bus provided by the Makinde Government for transportation purpose for the 3SC has become what you can call ” e tii, e romi sii”. ( Push me I go).
That the said Bus has been breaking down at will. The other time, the Bus broke down on the way to Aba when the 3SC had a match with the Eyimba Football Club and at another time, the Bus broke down while conveying the Team for a match with Katsina United?
That this has affected the 3SC negatively in the quest to fight for a top slot on the League, falling from second spot to I think fourth now?
Like I said, the Press is culpable in all this and apologies to the very few ones who have remained resolute against the tyranny of this Government.
The unfortunate disaster at Alesinloye market has decimated, deflated and exposed this Government.
Even if Sadare did not say so, is it not apparent?
So, why is Michael Ogunsina shaking with anger just because the Oyo APC spokesperson says the truth that is glaring to all?
My simple advice for the Oyo PDP Acting PRO is to go and study about which terrains his rabble rousing would be appreciated.
I have said it severally. The gentleman needs to know when to keep his wits in his chest.
The venue of the disaster at Alesinloye market is not a campaign ground where tantrums and reckless statements could be accommodated.
The Government headed by Governor Seyi Makinde, his Party man, through its ineptitude, has since turned Alesinloye market to a place of pain and gnashing of teeth and the least Michael Ogunsina could do is to respect the pains of the victims even if he has lost his conscience and couldn’t feel their pains.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
