Oyo community decries non-inclusion in N7.6bn CBN loan, tells Gov Makinde to reverse course

Indigenes of Oke Ogun community of Oyo State have faulted the decision of the state government to spend the N7.6 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) loan on developmental projects that would only benefit one senatorial district in the state.

They appealed to the State Governor, Seyi Makinde to have a rethink on his plan, saying that the loan should not be spent only on the two proposed farm settlements located in Ido and Eruwa, which are in Oyo South Senatorial District.

Oke Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF) made this call in a statement signed by the President, Olusegun Ajuwon, and the Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Jare Ajayi.

The body described as unacceptable the Oyo State Government’s view that proceeds from the projects in these two settlements would later be spent on the other farm settlements in the State, arguing that the amount involved was huge enough to be spent on all the seven identified settlements in the state.

It added that justice, equity and fairness in resource distribution demands that all settlements in the state should benefit from proposed government intervention. The people claimed that fair play dictates that such a loan should not be spent in just one district at the expense of other two.

READ ALSO: ATIKU/BUHARI: We’ll reject any Supreme Court panel not based on our recommendation —CUPP

They reminded Governor Makinde of his confirmation that Oke Ogun was the food basket of the state and the commitment that his government would do everything possible to ensure that agricultural produce from that region fed the state.

“Oke ogun is well known for development in agriculture, a fact acknowledged by even the World Bank which created in the region the Oyo North Agricultural Programme (ONADEP) in Saki, some decades ago,” the statement added.

ODCF concluded that the state governor should consider the inclusion of farm settlements in the three senatorial districts including Oke Ogun, Fashola-Oyo, and Ogbomoso in disbursement of the CBN loan.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now