Ogbomoso PDP commends Makinde for development strides
DESPITE ongoing face- off between Governor Seyi Mankinde of Oyo State and the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, over who is the authentic leader of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the Southwest, critical stakeholders in Ogbomoso PDP have endorsed Makinde for a second term ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
The stakeholders commended Makinde for having successfully positioned Ogbomoso’s economy on the global pedestal and therefore said the governor deserves nothing less than to be supported to complete what he started in 2015 beyond 2023.
Making their position known in a 12- point communiqué made available to the media after the community’s consultative assembly held on February 13, Ogbomosho PDP stakeholders said the tenacity with which Governor Makinde secured the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ( LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, and the huge financial commitments the governor is bringing to bear as a result of that feat are clear testimonies of his love for the people of the ancient town.
The communiqué signed by 10 stakeholders across five local government areas in Ogbomoso, commended the decision of the Makindeled government to pay off N8 billion to resolve LAUTECH’S ownership tussle. They also said the decision to turn the university into a conventional institution was equally a welcome idea.
They also praised the governor for deciding to commit huge funds, which would go a long way to lift Ogbomoso’s economy, into the building of faculties such as law, education, humanities and social sciences once the conventional status of the institution is ratified.
The communiqué read: “The stakeholders note the impressive contributions of Governor Makinde to the development of Ogbomoso’s economy, especially the tenacity that led to the sole ownership of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso by Oyo State, the decision to actu - alise the N8 billion pay- off to finally secure LAUTECH, the Light- Up Oyo State phase 2, construction of Under G LAUTECH road, the remodeling of Soun Stadium, citing of Centre of Excellence on Energy Innovation in LAUTECH, the construction of 50 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 50 elec toral wards, the construction of the 76km Iseyin/ Ogbomoso road and the decision to turn LAUTECH into a conventional university.
“The meeting notes that with the sole ownership of LAUTECH by Oyo State and the conventional university status for the institution, Ogbomoso campus will get huge boosts with the inclusion of Faculties such as Education, Law, Arts and Social Sciences. The huge economic benefits of such reality are unimaginable.” The communiqué also said Makinde was unanimously adopted as PDP’S candidate for the 2023 election in view of the enormous contributions to Ogbomoso economy and his show of love for them, which they said made the governor appoint indigenes of the area to critical positions in his administration.
Other observations from the stakeholders meeting was that Makinde remained supportive and respectful of the party’s structures at different levels, which till today positions the PDP as the biggest party in Ogbomoso zone since 2019. They expressed satisfaction that due to the governor’s prudence in handling of the party’s affairs in the last two years, the PDP has continuously received defectors from other political platforms in Oyo State.
They also resolved that all party men and women should support the peace initiatives of Governor Makinde and directed that all returning members to the party must be accommodated and fully reintegrated.
Some of the appointees from Ogbomoso zone under the administration of Makinde include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Education, Commissioner for Works ( until recently), Directors General of OYSIPA,
OYSIA, Executive Chairman of BCOS, members of boards, parastatals and commissions and the media unit of his office.
They also commended the notable contributions and delivery of democracy dividends by council chairmen and chairmen of Local Council Development Area ( LCDAS) in the Ogbomoso zone, which according to the stakeholders, were in tandem with the innovative governance and four- point service agenda Makinde promised.
The stakeholders also commended the strong will displayed by Governor Makinde in the face of recent security threats in Oyo. They hailed the security architecture, which the incumbent put in place in the wake of the Ibarapa/ Oke- Ogun and Sasa security crises, stressing that the governor should sustain the tempo to prevent the crises from spreading to other parts of the state.
The communiqués further read: “Governor Makinde’s regular payment of salaries and pensions to different levels of workers despite the Covid- 19 pandemic that has ravaged national and global economy and for doing everything possible to lift Oyo state from poverty to prosperity.”
It also commended the decision of the governor for the payment of arrears of pension to judicial officers in Oyo State, dating back to 2010, a feat only achievable by a proactive and accountable administration.
Present at the meeting were the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, Commissioner of Education, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Majority Leader of Oyo State House of Assembly, Sanjo Adedoyin, Director General of OYSIPA, Segun Ogunwuyi, Executive Chairman of BCOS, Prince Dotun Oyelade, among others.