The Oyo State Government has faulted the allegation by the APC in Oyo State that the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde administration was planning to sell the Agodi Fish Farm, declaring that the party has become a manufacturer of falsehood and misinformation.
Oyo Govt chides APC over Agodi Fish Farm
The state government debunked the allegation in a release by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
It further stated that the tragedy of the state chapter of the APC was not only that it lacked answers to the challenges facing the state, but that it has also “become increasingly dependent on manufacturing falsehood.”
The state government added: “Its latest claim regarding an alleged plan by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to sell or cede the Agodi Government Fish Farm is yet another reckless tale, unsupported by facts, evidence, or any official record.
“Rather than engage the people of Oyo State with ideas, policies, and alternatives, the opposition has once again chosen the familiar path of speculation, misinformation, and political theatre.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan by the Oyo State Government to sell, cede, or otherwise transfer the Agodi Government Fish Farm to any private developer.
“The allegation exists only in the imagination of those who appear more interested in generating headlines than engaging in honest public discourse.
“Ordinarily, such a baseless claim would not merit a response. However, given the deliberate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary anxiety, it has become necessary to place the facts on record.
The Oyo APC’s statement is built entirely on conjecture. Nowhere did it provide any document, directive, policy decision, Executive Council resolution, or official communication to support its sensational allegation.
“Instead, it relied on rumours, assumptions, and inflammatory rhetoric in a desperate attempt to manufacture a crisis where none exists.
“It is ironic that a party whose years in government were characterised by abandoned projects, institutional decline, inadequate infrastructure and economic stagnation now seeks to portray itself as the guardian of public assets.
“The people of Oyo State have not forgotten the condition in which many public institutions and government facilities were left before the advent of the current administration in 2019.”
Olanrewaju further stated that Governor Makinde, since assuming office, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of Oyo State through strategic investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic expansion.
“The administration has consistently pursued policies aimed at preserving, strengthening and optimising public assets for the collective good of the people.
The opposition’s attempt to portray every development initiative as a scheme to appropriate public property only underscores its inability to distinguish between strategic development and the negligence that defined previous administrations,” he added.
He further stated that Governor Makinde’s administration remained one of the most transparent in the history of Oyo State, adding: “Government decisions are communicated openly and subjected to due process.
“If the APC possesses any credible evidence to support its allegation, it should present such evidence to the public. If it cannot, it should have the decency to retract the claim and apologise to the people of Oyo State for yet another attempt to mislead them.
“The Agodi Government Fish Farm remains a valuable public asset, and any matter relating to its operation, management or future development will always be guided by the overriding public interest and in accordance with the law.
Unfortunately, the Oyo APC appears incapable of accepting the reality that governance cannot be reduced to propaganda and alarmism.
While the opposition continues to manufacture imaginary scandals, Governor Makinde remains focused on delivering tangible results, expanding economic opportunities, improving public infrastructure and building a stronger and more prosperous Oyo State.
“The people of Oyo State deserve serious conversations about development, job creation, agriculture, education, healthcare and economic growth. They deserve more than the endless cycle of fear-mongering and misinformation that has become the trademark of the opposition.
We therefore urge the good people of Oyo State to disregard the APC’s baseless allegations and remain confident that this administration will continue to act with transparency, responsibility and fidelity to the public trust,” it was added in the statement.
