APC Slams Makinde Over Alleged Conversion of Public Libraries into Shops, Sale of State Assets

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized the state government over the alleged conversion of public library facilities in Ibadan’s Dugbe area into commercial shops. In a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party described the move as both shameful and unacceptable, arguing that it marks a significant disregard for public education and research. The APC expressed concerns that the government’s plans would further neglect the educational needs of students, researchers, and the wider community, and would lead to a decline in the state’s reading culture.

The APC also raised alarm about the purported sale of a modern motor park located in the Wema Area on New Ife Road in Ibadan. According to the party, the facility, built during the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has been sold to a pastor who leads a church near the site. The APC suggested that these actions represent a broader pattern of land mismanagement under the current administration.

The party noted the growing presence of private business complexes and shopping malls within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board, which was originally established to house public libraries and serve as an educational hub. The APC lamented that these spaces, once vital for learning and development, are now being repurposed for commercial use, signaling a decline in the government’s commitment to improving education.

The opposition party questioned the rationale behind such actions and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to explain why public properties, inherited from past administrations, are being sold or leased off. It also expressed concerns over the rising incidents of land grabbing in Ibadan, involving government appointees and local officials, which it believes is exacerbated by the alleged mismanagement of state resources.

The APC concluded by demanding that the government take immediate action to halt the sale and mismanagement of public assets, stressing that the trend of land grabbing and the neglect of public education facilities must come to an end.