The Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency Liaison Office, Honorable Mogaji Adegboyega Akinolu James fondly called Akin Oosa, on Friday, August 13 on the programme titled “Kajo gbeyewo” on raypower radio where he talked about the jaw breaking achievements of PDP under the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde and his allegiance to the governor.
Akin Oosa talked about how the federal government has made the cost of living for the citizens unbearable in their last six years and how President Buhari remains the architect who makes the security of the country worse.
He referred to Buhari’s speech when he lost election to Jonathan where he said that he will make the country ungovernable for him.
He said that the affairs of security in the state is the governor’s priority, hence he established operation Amotekun personnel but when asked about the incident that happened between Amotekun personnel in Oke Ado area, he responded positively.
“What I read about their launching was that they were trained before they were allowed to function and those leading them too, have adequate knowledge about security of a state. Like what happened at Ooje, even if they had not heard before, now they would hear and we know, action will be taken and give back report to the governor.”
When asked about those that have benefited from the government through him or possibly only his family members he said, “I only give people around me opportunities, I don’t see it that it must be given to my family members. I can mention some names in customs services who are doing well and there are some in prison services like, Opeyemi Oluwasuyi in Agodi, Femi Falade in custom duties are all doing well. God used me to lift them.
I influence works at the federal before, I gave some people rare privilege s to work at the ministry of environment then. Those we helped to Jerusalem and Hajj are there too. And the current one we are having through the help of the governor which I really appreciate. God has helped us and Gov Seyi Makinde has helped us in what we are doing currently, because we are still helping people as we speak.”
“For instance, in my ward, there are computer systems that we are using to register those that are ready to join PDP as a party. The registration is ongoing as we speak. People are being given the token of #10,000 in the society in order for them to have something to feed their stomach and support their trades and it’s a continuous programme, we have never stopped it.”
“So many people have been the beneficiaries of the help that came through Gov Seyi Makinde, we are trying and I know that as long as his government continues, the good work will not stop.”
When asked about how he feels about the removal of Uche Secondus as PDP National Chairman.
He said, “Matters of a party not necessarily PDP, has ways to go about, starting from the ward to the local government, state, region and national and there are some people in charge. PDP has processes it follows. Talking about national chairman, we have something we call national caucus, they are the ones that brought in Secondus and now that people want him out, they have met again and they will tell us which way in due time.”
Talking about the achievements of Honorable Sanusi Musibau Shaba since he attained his position, “When I was vice chairman of Ona Ara, he was youth leader of his Ward ten or eleven years ago and now we supported without minding that he would be ahead of us in the political class and God ensured he attained the position. He had been trying his best since he was a caretaker and there is not he does that he doesn’t carry me along.”
“Since he attained the position, the security aspect of Ona Ara local government has taken good dimension. He complements the efforts of the governor.”
Talking about reinstating the commissioners by the governor after suspending them for a short time, what was the governor playing out with the step, “there is no big deal if the their works are being assessed, in two years what have they done and what are they doing? I think it was the assessment of their works the governor looked into”
When asked about the money the federal government keeps borrowing and its implications, he said, “it’s only the person that borrows money that knows what he intends to do with the money and I know if one has the fear of God and has the interest of the people at heart, he won’t borrow money without knowing what he intends to do with it for the well being of the people.
“You see, talking about the toll gates, I could remember, some years back in 1998 to be precised, I was a federal worker. I worked in ministry of environment, then the Lagos toll gate was functioning. In the evening time after work, I usually went there to play because it was being controlled by ministry of works. I wasn’t a member of ministry of works, they knew what they saw that made them cancelled it and they also know what they saw that warranted them to want to open it again.
They may see it as a way to generate revenue for the government and they may also see it a way to oppress the citizens. All government policies, only government understands it.”
“It’s not good for the government to have brought up this policy at this moment but they know why they make the decision.”
“We all saw military government and now it’s democracy, at the federal where things come downward, this regime has not done well enough. We have deviated from what democracy connotes from the federal level.”
“What I observed as the office of the federation, we should be seeing several infrastructural amenities in the town but which it’s not. I’m not at federal level nor in federal public office holder to make a change but if we want to tell the truth, people are suffering.”
“What has changed since PDP left office of the presidency are quite much. When Goodluck Jonathan was in the office as the president from PDP, I remembered a bag of rice was sold at #6,500. That was the last time I bought it at that rate but we all know how much a bag of rice is sold now.”
“The exchange rate of dollar to naira was #165 as at the time he left office but when I changed it in his time, I changed it at the rate of #142 to a dollar. Now, we all know what dollar is to naira. I don’t need to say the government is good or not before the masses draw their conclusion.”
“And the only way out of this mess we have found ourselves is to put the fear of God at heart. If our leaders don’t fear God, the state can’t move forward. Take for instance Oyo state, Gov Seyi Makinde has the fear of God. I could remember during electioneering, we went to Oyo town at Alaafin for campaign. When we got to him, Baba said all you Oyomesi, this man that you see is a promise keeper and we will follow him because he had made some promises with me and he fulfilled them and it’s a person of God that keeps promises.”
When asked to talk about the progress and achievement of the governor so far, he said, “As I am, I don’t deceive I say it as it is. The government led by Engr Seyi Makinde, we have really tried in just two years. In fact, I won’t want to say much. I will just explain a little out of them.”
“Firstly, education sector, when we were on electioneering campaign the governor promised that if he is elected, the three thousand tuition fees of the pupils will be cancelled which he did during his swearing in. Everyone was happy about the development.
About 30,000 teachers were employed recently. He also promised to take charge of LAUTECH and he did, that’s part of the achievements of the governor.”
“Secondly, Health sector, the government is taking care of the clinics in each ward. I remembered that some months into the government, the governor commissioned a hospital at Oranyan. It was not the way it uses to be again after the renovation.
At Adeoyo hospital in ring road, the machine that tests people, the governor went there to make amendment to it barely five months into the government. And Adeoyo hospital at Iyemetu, if you go there you will see the difference between then and now.”
“Thirdly, talking about the roads, in September 2019 that we assumed office, the governor went to toll gate at the interchange where he launched light up Ibadan which was later changed to light up Oyo state.”
With the achievements of the governor in other sector, the level of security in Ibadan is still overwhelming as lives and properties are being threatened despite the efforts of the governor to provide equipment that should ensure the security personnel(including the establishment Amotekun) to make the work easy for them.
“When asked why the security sector is lagging behind, he said that “Is it the same experience we had on security ten years ago, we have today? Some years back, when Buhari lost to Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari before he became the president said he would make Nigeria ungovernable for him. It is there in all newspapers and since then, things have become what it is. At least, he must have thought of something before saying that.”
“I do not have any ambition in politics as I have said. When I became vice chairman, I didn’t say I wanted it God gave it to me. I had become the vice of the committee that restructured PDP in Oyo state, in 2012. I did not say I wanted it, I was nominated. Everything I do, I put my hopes in God. I do pray to God and follow my leaders footsteps.”
