OYO POLITICS: Makinde’s Governance Built On Deceit, Lies Over N7.7bn Aircraft — Olayinka

…Laments delayed deployment as terrorists strike Oriire LG, tasks gov on N30bn explosion fund

In what is fast developing into a major political storm in Oyo State, prominent political figure and critic Lere Olayinka has launched a scathing attack on Governor Seyi Makinde, accusing him of elevating deliberate deception and lies to a fundamental tool of state governance. The heavy criticism trails the governor’s recent revelations regarding a multi-billion naira surveillance aircraft and his administration’s handling of the N30 billion Federal Government compensation fund meant for victims of the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.

At the centre of the raging controversy is a surveillance asset, widely suspected by critics to be a high-capacity drone, which the state government proudly announced it had procured in July last year to combat the rising tide of insecurity. However, the political space was thrown into shock following Governor Makinde’s recent press briefing, where he casually disclosed that the N7.7 billion security equipment was still lying unassembled at an Air Force base in Lagos State.

Olayinka expressed deep outrage that it took a devastating terrorist attack in Oriire Local Government Area for the governor to remember to inform the people of Oyo State about the true status of the heavily funded security project. According to the critic, the governor’s explanation that Chinese engineers contracted to assemble the aircraft only arrived in the country three days ago and would require an additional two weeks to complete the job is a glaring testament to administrative deceit and a lack of empathy for the lives of the citizens.

The prominent political commentator lamented that a staggering N7.7 billion of Oyo State taxpayers’ money, which was purportedly invested to protect vulnerable citizens, has been allowed to lie completely unused in a neighbouring state for nearly a year. He further accused the governor of consistently making false statements with the deliberate intention to deceive the public, arguing that such actions go far beyond accidental misinformation and border on a systemic disregard for the truth.

Broadening his critique of the administration’s alleged lack of transparency, Olayinka also dragged the governor over the warehousing of a massive N30 billion intervention fund provided by the Federal Government. The funds were explicitly released as compensation for the victims whose lives and properties were shattered during the tragic January 2024 Ibadan explosion. The opposition argues that keeping such critical relief funds locked away while the victims continue to wallow in hardship completely erodes the moral standing of the administration.

Political watchers aligning with Olayinka’s position have noted that Governor Makinde’s gentlemanly outward appearance is a direct opposite of his administrative reality. They criticized the governor’s audacity to mount political podiums to reference historical struggles like ‘Operation Wetie’, pointing out the irony of a leader invoking the spirit of political resistance while allegedly depriving his own people of basic security and promised financial relief through a deliberate machinery of state-sponsored falsehoods.