Oyo 2027 Should be About Records Not APC hanky panky PROPAGANDA ||●By Wale Omoboyesola 

 

By Wale Omoboyesola

The Oyo State APC’s claim that Governor Seyi Makinde held an APM rally at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, merely to “spite Oyo people” is a political interpretation that should not be presented as an established fact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a legitimate conversation to be had about the stadium. APC and other stakeholders are entitled to ask questions about the renovation, expenditure, certification and the reasons Shooting Stars could not use the facility for a particular CAF continental fixture. Indeed, the APC campaign organisation has raised questions about the reported expenditure and CAF approval.

 

But there is a much bigger question APC should answer: Is political propaganda now the only campaign strategy available to the party?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oyo people have memories. They remember the political history of the state before the emergence of the present APC governorship candidate. They remember previous administrations and the promises made to them. Therefore, APC cannot simply erase its own history and concentrate exclusively on attacking the incumbent.

 

If APC believes Governor Makinde has failed, then let the party place the records on the table.

 

 

 

 

What did APC achieve when it had the opportunity to govern Oyo State? What concrete projects, policies and programmes does its candidate want Oyo people to remember? What lessons has he learnt from his previous public responsibilities? And, most importantly, what exactly is his plan for Oyo State?

 

These are the questions that matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The same accountability should apply at the federal level. Nigerians are confronting serious concerns over the cost of living, food affordability, insecurity and employment. The Federal Government has its explanations for the difficulties and has pointed to its economic reforms, but ordinary citizens are entitled to judge those policies by their effects on their daily lives. Reuters, for example, reported significant economic hardship and insecurity during the first year of the Tinubu administration.

 

It was against this background that the First Lady’s comments about empowering vulnerable Nigerians through small businesses such as akara frying and roasted-corn selling generated public debate. She later defended the initiative, explaining that grants were being provided to support petty trading.

 

There is nothing wrong with supporting small businesses. The question is whether such interventions, by themselves, can adequately address the deeper problems of unemployment, inflation, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure and declining purchasing power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That cannot be the political prescription Oyo people should be asked to accept.

 

Oyo State needs serious economic thinking: investment, industrial development, agriculture, education, skills development, security, infrastructure and an environment where businesses can create sustainable employment.

So, rather than spending all their energy on political headlines about a stadium, APC should tell Oyo people what its candidate has actually achieved and what he intends to do differently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the candidate has a record of success, let him present it.

 

If there were failures in his previous assignments, let him explain them.

 

If he has a comprehensive programme for Oyo State, let him publish it.

If APC believes Governor Makinde’s administration has failed, let the party demonstrate that argument with verifiable facts and put forward a credible alternative programme.

 

Oyo people are capable of comparing records for themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lekan Salami Stadium belongs to the people and its expenditure should be accountable. If there are questions requiring answers, those questions should be investigated through the appropriate institutions. But a stadium controversy should not become a substitute for a governorship candidate’s manifesto or record of service.

The 2027 election should not be reduced to who can produce the loudest headline.

 

It should be about records, competence, programmes, accountability and the future of Oyo State.

 

Therefore, APC should stop telling Oyo people only what it thinks is wrong with Governor Makinde and start telling them what its own candidate has done, what he failed to do, and what he will do differently if given the opportunity to govern.

 

The people are waiting to see the records.