Oyo Speaker overrules members, approves Makinde’s request for N7.6bn loan

Amidst heated debate, Oyo House of Assembly on Thursday plenary
approved the request of Governor Seyi Makinde to access N7.6billion
loan to upgrade farm settlements in Akufo and Eruwa areas of the
state to farm estates.

The approval followed a request sent to the lawmakers by
Makinde, which was read on the floor by the Speaker.

The latest approval makes it the second loan so far approved for
the Governor Makinde- led administration by the lawmakers having
earlier endorsed a N10billion infrastructure loan request in
July.

According to the details of the letter as presented on the floor
at plenary, the loan facility is to be accessed from the Central
Bank of Nigeria and spent on the two farm settlements, located
within Ido/Ibarapa federal constituency.

It added that the proposed farm estates are to serve as pilot
projects, which will be used to develop other farm settlements
across the state.

But the choice of the two farms settlements to enjoy the loan
facility out of the many others in the state did not go down well
with many of the lawmakers as reflected in the argument which was
later overruled by the Speaker.

In their separate reactions, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Abiodun
Fadeyi and the Minority Leader, Mr Asimiyu Alarape requested that
the loan facility be extended to other farm settlements in the
state.

They also urged the Executives to ensure that the agricultural
loan is judiciously used only for the purpose it was sought.

Also, Mr Isiaka Tunde (Oyo East/ Oyo West) and his counterpart
from Iseyin/Itesiwaju Mr Dele Adeola challenged the rationale for
selecting two farm settlements from the same Federal constituency
(Ibarapa East/Iddo), insisting that the loan be spread to other
parts of the state.

But while responding, Speaker Ogundoyin assured that the
selected farm settlements to enjoy the loan facility would only
serve as pilot projects for the development of other farm
settlements.

He added that other states have been enjoying the loan long
before the current administration in the state.

He said: “Other states have been accessing this agriculture loan
facility, especially in the North. But we thank God the state
government is ready to work with the federal government and provide
counterpart funding to show seriousness in accessing this loan.

“We know that the CBN and federal government are interested in
agricultural development and this is a blessing to Oyo state.
Moreover, our own goal is to develop the state through
agriculture.

“If we decide to spread the money as requested by some
lawmakers, we might end up not achieving anything and have
abandoned projects.

“So why have abandoned projects when we can have completed
projects that are working and running. These two projects can be
the engine room for the other projects.

“We are taking the projects one at a time. If we can achieve two
projects out of seven then for the remaining five, we do another
two next year and thereafter, then we will be able to make
progress.”