An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Oyo state, Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has asked the state government to be cautious of taking more loans.
The APC Chieftain stated this in a statement issued by his Media Office in Ibadan, on Sunday in reaction to the recent approval of the state House of Assembly to the governor to borrow N50 billion.
Engr Alao emphasised that the state government under Governor Seyi Makinde is engaging in acts that will further plunge the state into a burdensome financial servitude, adding, in the last four years, the administration has borrowed over N100 billion.
The APC Chieftain pointed out that there is the need for Governor Makinde to refrain in engaging in acts that will further plunge the state into a burdensome financial servitude by being transparent to the people of the state in borrowing loan.
Engineer Alao stressed that Governor Makinde “owes it a duty to be explicit to the people by giving a breakdown with an estimated budget/cost per project of what he wants to use the loan for as he is holding his position in trust for them”.
“It is necessary to sound a note of caution to our dear Governor Seyi Makinde on the fresh loan of N50 billion just approved for him by the state House of Assembly. In as much as we do not see taking loan as harmful, our concern remains that there is the need for the governor to tell the people what he wants to use the loan for”, he said
Engr Alao added, “The people of the state as stakeholders deserve a right for convincing reasons for any loan to be taken on their behalf most especially the economic benefits of the projects to them in order not to mortgage their collective patrimony.”
“While taking loans is not bad it is incumbent on any leader doing such on behalf of the people to be open to them on reasons for the loans. It is important for Governor Makinde to give a breakdown of what he intends to use the approved N50 billion for.
The APC Chieftain stated that the days of incurring loans for expensive projects that could be executed at minimal costs and not having significant bearing on the lives of the people of the state should be over in the second term of the governor
According to him, “like in his admonition to him in his congratulatory message, Governor Makinde should focus more attention on areas that are germane such as education, security, health, creation of jobs for the youths and state of the environment.
The APC Chieftain however tasked the Oyo state House of Assembly to be circumspect in approving every loan the executive brings to the floor as the lawmakers were elected to represent the interest of the people, saying the absence of the lawmakers who are members of the APC during the sitting when the loan was approved could not but raise an alarm of the House populated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), only doing the bidding of Governor Makinde.
