Oyo APC Knocks Makinde Over Media Chat, Says Governor Ignored Key Issues

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde over his two-hour media chat on Sunday, describing the programme as a waste of time and accusing him of failing to address issues directly affecting residents.

The party's position was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare.

Makinde had appeared on a privately owned radio station in Ibadan, where he responded to questions from a presenter during a live programme that lasted approximately two hours.

The APC, however, faulted the governor's choice of issues during the interview, arguing that he failed to provide satisfactory explanations on the state's finances, insecurity and other pressing concerns.

The party also linked the reported early Monday resignation of the governor's Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, to what it described as signs of internal challenges within the state government.

“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,” the statement said.

The APC urged Makinde to retrace his steps and seek assistance from appropriate quarters within and outside the state.

It also criticised the governor for using a privately owned radio station for the media engagement, claiming that the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State had deteriorated under his administration.

According to the party, the corporation's facilities and resources had been poorly managed, while its staff had allegedly faced unfavourable working conditions.

The APC further accused Makinde of devoting much of the interview to his political ambitions rather than explaining how his administration had utilised federal allocations and other public funds.

The party said the governor should have addressed his role in efforts to secure the release of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members from Oyo State who were abducted in Imo State while travelling to their orientation camps.

It also demanded an explanation of what support the state government would provide to the victims and their families following their release.

The opposition party equally raised concerns over the reported abduction of three staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, demanding details of efforts to secure their release and address the rising insecurity 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,” the APC stated.

The party also faulted the reported plan to spend N21 billion on the Agbowo Shopping Complex, describing the facility as moribund and alleging that it had been looted.

It recalled Makinde's earlier statement that his administration would not award new contracts from December 31, 2025, and urged the governor to abandon the proposed expenditure on the complex.

The APC's comments came amid heightened political debate in Oyo State over governance, security and the governor's reported presidential ambition.

The allegations against the state government were contained in the APC's statement. The statement did not include a response from the governor or his administration.