The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, on Monday, described the Sunday two-hour media chat of Governor Seyi Makinde as a waste of time for the audience, as he (Makinde) allegedly failed to address key issues that were of direct concern to the residents of the state.
This was contained in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in Ibadan, the state capital,
It will be recalled that Makinde was the guest of a private radio station in Ibadan as he was made to respond to some questions being asked by a lone presenter.
The live interview programme lasted two hours, and a large audience was believed to have monitored it.
The party said, “The early Monday morning resignation of Governor Makinde’s Chief of Staff, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi, is an ominous sign that all is not well with the government of the day in Oyo State, while the governor would have to retrace his steps and seek help from the appropriate quarters within and outside the state.
“Many people have queried the choice of a privately owned radio station for Makinde’s media engagement, but we all know that the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State has become moribund under him in the last seven years, with all the corporation’s lands and resources sold at ridiculous prices and studios left to pack while staff are being subjected to untold maltreatment.
“Be that as it may, Makinde used the whole two hours, which cost a fortune of the state money, to dwell on issues that were of little or no concern to the good people of the state.
“He (Makinde) told his audience that he joined the presidential race in protest against an alleged disappointment he received from President Bola Tinubu when he should have explained what his government was doing to justify the huge allocations and subventions which he gets from the Federal Government.
“Makinde ought to have explained his role in the rescue operation of the 20 prospective Corps members from the state who were kidnapped in Imo State. The public wanted to know what he (Makinde) would do for the young citizens and their parents in compensation after their release from the criminal gang of abductors,” it said.
The party added, “Also, the public wanted to know the circumstances surrounding the fresh abduction of the three staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and efforts being put in place to rescue them, as well as ensuring that surging insecurity is permanently addressed in the state.
“It is right to say that good governance went on holiday on May 29, 2019, while the far cry which replaced it has also been disabled because Makinde feels a need to waste public resources on a misplaced ambition.
“Meanwhile, the governor should remember that he has said that no new contract would be awarded by his administration from December 31, 2025, and the fresh idea of N21 billion spending on the moribund and looted Agbowo Shopping Complex should be buried immediately.”