In the build-up to the forthcoming general election, the 2019 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially declared his intention to re-contest the exalted number one office in the state come 2023.
Adelabu, while addressing his teeming supporters at the Oke-Ado old APC State Secretariat in Ibadan on Thursday, accused Governor Seyi Makinde of selling off state-owned asset, Agbowo Shopping Complex, for a whopping sum of N50bn.
Speaking further, Adelabu also alleged Makinde of awarding major contracts to the Igbo contractors. He alleged further that the Governor has continued to siphon Oyo State money and relocating same outside of Nigeria to the United States of America.
Adelabu, the Parakoyi of Ibadanland, also accused Makinde of shortchanging the people of Oke-ogun zone by constructing a single carriage road from Ogbomoso to Iseyin instead of a dual carriage, which according to him, was fully paid for by the Late Abiola Ajimobi-led government.
It would be recalled that Governor Makinde had, on assumption of office, put up the complex for renovation after many years of its abandonment by successive governments.
However, Adelabu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) flagbearer in 2019 and governorship aspirant for 2023 election in the state, told his crowd of supporters in Ibadan yesterday that Governor Makinde has sold the complex for N50billion.
It would also be recalled that Governor Makinde had in 2020 leased the popular Agbowo Shopping complex, Ibadan to Whitestone Global Limited for 50 years for renovation.
According to the lease agreement ,the investor is expected to inject N4.9bn into the project, to convert the moribund structure into premium commercial real estate and a 4-star hotel.
“The Agbowo Shopping Complex has been sold for N50bn by Governor Makinde. Even the light up project which you see is a conduit pipe to siphon Oyo State fund. The diesel to run the project is N250m monthly.
“Thugs and hooligans have taken over Oyo State. During Endsars protest, governor Makinde was watching while policemen were killed, roasted and police stations set ablaze. When I become governor, all these wrongs will be corrected by God’s grace . The people of Oyo State deserved better”, he said.
Adelabu who expressed gratitude to God and the people of the state for their support, recalled how he contested governorship poll in 2019 under the platform of APC and lost to Engr. Seyi Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He noted that it was however, not yet God’s time in 2019 but averred that God’s time was finally here as he is well prepared and equipped to unseat the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde come 2023 and reclaim his mandate.
He paid glowing tributes to past leaders of the party including late former governors Lam Adesina, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala for their support and contributions to the development of the state.
Also, the APC governorship hopeful salute the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Arisekola and the late political icon and grandfather, Chief Adegoke Adelabu popularly called ‘Penkelemesi’ for investing in him.
Adelabu also used the opportunity to clarify a statement credited to him where he was said to have criticised Governor Makinde for rehabilitating Ibadan-Iseyin road , saying “it is only a madman that can say that, what I said is that governor Makinde is shortchanging the people of Oke-Ogun zone, and that the people of the zone deserve better judging by the critical role they play in the development of the state.”
Present at the Adebayo Adelabu official declaration for governorship election are members of Ajimobi Legacy Forum, Unity Forum and hundreds of party supporters.
Also present are the APC factional Chairman, Chief Abu Gbadamosi, Senator Ayo Adeseun, former Deputy Governor to late Ajimobi, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, former Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Chief Sarafadeen Ali, former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olagunju Ojo, and former ALGON Chairman, Hon. Ademola Ojo amongst others.
The highlight of the event was entertaining music supplied by Commy Jackson, Abass Akande Obesere and Musiliu Haruna Ishola. While the big shots in Nollywood also entertaining the teeming supporters of the APC guber aspirant.
