The Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the green chamber of National Assembly, Senator Muhammed Kola Balogun has lamented that the people of Oyo State have totally rejected All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, stressing that another episode of defeat wills repeat itself come 2023 general elections.
Balogun while fielding questions on a programme anchored by Mayor Isaac Brown and Abolade Salami of Fresh FM, Ibadan lamented that APC would repeat another episode of defeat in 2023 as it occurred to its gubernatorial candidate in the last 2019 general elections.
On answers to APC’s condemnation of Governor Seyi Makinde, Balogun said that APC had not fully recovered from the alleged shameful defeat it suffered in the last elections, stressing that its stakeholders’ condemnation of Makinde’s style of governance and most especially current handling of Covid-19 is not doubt in connection with preparation ahead of 2023 election, he reiterated that the defeat they suffered in the last elections would have same replication in the subsequent elections.
Balogun who got to the senate under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) commended Makide’ s style of handling coronavirus pandemic in the state, stressing that Makinde’s directives on partial lockdown, skeletal businesses, social distance and other adherence to precautionary and hygienic measures would no doubt bring relief to the people of the state and beyond.
While speaking on negative effects which total lockdown has brought to Lagos and its inhabitants, Balogun lamented that it has turned to day light robbery, turned the neighbourhood’s boys to vigilantes and also exposes people to danger. He reiterated that APC stakeholders should rather praise the governor rather than criticizing him in a destructive way.
On benefits entitled to his constituents, Balogun said that he had made concerted efforts in ensuring that the qualified and interested applicants get soft loans to boost their small scale businesses, adding that forms had been issued for application, filing and have them submitted at appropriate quarters.
He added that size of the business would determine the amounts to apply for, as an applicant can apply for minimum of one thousand naira and maximum of twenty five million naira aimed at sustaining and rejuvenating the business during and after the pandemic.
On palliatives to cushion the effects of lockdown, Balogun disclosed that he had distributed hand sanitizers, beans, rice and other relief materials to people in his senatorial district and beyond, adding that the distribution of consumable and preventive items was to mitigate the effects of lockdown that is caused by coronavirus pandemic in the state, Nigeria and world at large.
In his response to Oyo Palliatives’ distribution, Balogun said that Oyo Government was working assiduously towards ensuring that the gift items get to the right hands, no mater their locations and distance, advising people to be patient, calmed and watch as event unfolds.
On donation to assist the fight against the contagious disease in the state, the federal lawmaker said that he would surely donate to the state government at when and how the programme anchors might not know.
On the proposed vaccination bill, Balogun said that its discussion had been in progress in both houses of National Assembly but he stands firmly on a ground where majority of Nigerians would not be deprived of their inalienable rights and privileges.
He added that National Assembly was meant for making laws that would ease the burdens and hardship of entire Nigerians, not a place to do anything contrary to what they were voted for.
He reiterated that he would continue to defend, sponsor bills and motions which are progressive and developmental to stability of Nigeria.
