Oyo State Government has alleged that Governor ‘Seyi Makinde was deliberately excluded from the flag off of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road Dualisation, declaring that the act was politics taken too far.
The flag-off of the road project took place in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Monday, with the Oyo State governor conspicuously absent.
Federal and state officials had gathered for the commencement of the dualisation project, expected to improve road connectivity between Ibadan in Oyo State and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
Politics of road dualisation
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, stated in a statement that the deliberate exclusion of Governor Makinde from the dualisation of the road was politics taken too far.
He noted that the ceremony, which took place at Idi Ayunre, was attended by the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Oyo APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli; and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
Oyelade stated that the event fell short of its edifying billing because of an alleged “desperate political undertone borne out of a lack of sagacity and confidence.”
According to him, the excuse that the invitation was not extended to the governor because he was on leave made the case even more ridiculous, noting that there was a functional acting governor on the ground.
The commissioner, however, disclosed that Governor Makinde was unperturbed and expressed regrets that the event was reduced to a political jamboree.
“The course of 2027 is set, and no level of indecorum or desperation from whatever quarters will hold back the will of the people,” Oyelade stated.
Fueling the alleged political undertone that attended the flag-off, Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo who was at the event, reportedly urged Governor Makinde to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The junior minister reportedly said that Makinde, by joining APC, would enable Oyo State to align more closely with the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The central train of development is moving fast under our progressive banner,” Goronyo was quoted to have said.
“I therefore warmly welcome and openly invite His Excellency the Governor of Oyo State, Mr ‘Seyi Makinde, to take the natural giant step into the APC.
“Come and align Oyo State fully with the centre under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he reportedly added.
Makinde is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), the overtures made to him to defect to APC notwithstanding.
Also present at the flagging-off ceremony was the deputy governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Noimat Salako.
