The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Taiwo Adisa, has blasted Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), advising the party to learn how to play opposition politics responsibly and should stop disgracing itself by coming up with incoherent thoughts and misdirected positions that easily belie their renewed interest in the welfare of the people of the state.

Adisa, in a statement he signed on Saturday, described the intrusion of the state APC in the planned adoption of an expanse of land and parts of the Staff Quarters of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) into a Government Residential Area (GRA) as ‘pointless’, ‘uninformed’, ‘half-baked’ and ‘irresponsible’.

The Governor’s aide expressed surprise over the sudden interest of the APC in the BCOS staff members, of whom some were sacked or retired prematurely, and some were nearly killed with unpaid salaries and pensions as well as sundry wicked policies which left them dehumanized during the immediate past APC government.

He noted that the Makinde-led administration has the best interest of workers and residents of the state at heart and that it would not implement any policy that will not add value to the state.

He further explained that the planned conversion of the landed property in Basorun to a GRA was projected to further develop Ibadan, to reduce the Housing deficit in the state capital and improve the internally-generated revenue of the state.

Adisa further stated that the controversy had long been laid to rest between the Management of BCOS and the developer, adding that the welfare of the occupants of the staff Quarters has been fully taken care of.

He reminded the APC that the BCOS Quarters and the expanse of land belong to the government, stating that generating controversy on the planned conversion to a GRA is unnecessary.

“Contrary to the misinformation being pushed by the APC and its loudspeakers, the buildings being currently inhabited by 36 BCOS staffers, have not been demolished,” he noted.

Adisa maintained that agents of falsehood and fake news were behind the rumour that the government demolished the quarters without prior notice to residents, adding that a number of the buildings in the Quarters are unoccupied and that the demolished structure was dilapidated and empty.

Part of the statement read: “One read with amusement the error-laden, misguided statement of the Oyo State APC on the needless controversy surrounding the conversion of the BCOS Staff Quarters to a GRA. It is funny how APC leaders, after mismanaging Oyo State for eight years and destroying public trust, can seek to turn around to become advocates for the institution they reduced to its lowest ebb.

"While one will like to advise the APC to learn to play opposition politics responsibly, the party should stop disgracing itself by coming up with incoherent thoughts and misdirected positions that easily belie their renewed interest in the welfare of Oyo State people, whom they dehumanised with several inhuman policies for eight years. 

"The APC should have sought information and get clear perspectives of the development at the BCOS before alleging that the government failed to complete whatever it intended to build and relocate the families living in the BCOS Staff Quarters before it is demolished, because as of now, the buildings under occupation at BCOS  have not been demolished.

"It was, however, good that the Oyo APC could not disguise its main intention, which is to further advance its hatred against the Makinde administration.

"Coming up to accuse the administration of policy somersault sold the party out as still smarting from the unexpected loss it suffered at the polls in 2019.

"We sympathize with APC over its loss and wish that it would move on and learn how to play opposition politics responsibly, because the party will have to be contended with that role for a long time, as Nigerians and residents of Oyo State cannot afford to continue with the untold hardship brought upon the country by the APC leadership.

"Sadly, Oyo APC has been over-reaching itself talking about 2023 when it is obvious that it is already on a lost cause, as the government of Engineer Makinde has redefined governance and has been endearing itself to the people with focused leadership and sound policies that deliver maximum value to the people of the state."