Expect grand alliance, Makinde assures Oyo electorates

GUBERNATORIAL candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde has
assured the people of the state that all opposition parties in the state are working to produce a ‘grand alliance’ to dislodge the ruling party in the state come March 9 governorship election in the state.

Makinde made this known on Thursday while featuring in a special interactive session with the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engineer Adekunle Mokuolu, at the Felicia hall, Jogor Centre, Ibadan.

The event, according to the Chairman, NSE, Ibadan branch, Engineer Adedamola Fatila-Falade, was specifically designed by the association to interact one-on-one with engineers in politics and engineer with a view to bridge the gap between government administrators and create a smooth link with the government.

Makinde said, the opposition parties in the state are currently meeting and have agreed to make their ambitions a secondary ambition, assuring that this move he is very sure will bring good tidings for the people of the state.

Speaking about applying engineering ideals into politics, Makinde said: “If we have to dislodge APC in Oyo State, all other political parties will have to get into agreement where it’s a win win situation which may equal a draw for all of us.And I believe for the forthcoming election, we’re going to see a grand alliance in Oyo State.”

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“We are working really hard to ensure that a workable coalition is able to come forward to challenge the APC in Oyo. This is in the interest of the masses of Oyo State, we are all thinking about making our individual ambition secondary, the welfare and good governance for Oyo people is to be the issue of primary concern.”

On INEC’s performance during the presidential and national assembly election, he said “Like I said on Saturday, for any human endeavour you are abound to make mistakes. I am not a fan of throwing away the baby with the bath water, INEC is a national institution. What we want to do is seek redress in the court of law. They have made their pronouncement and I believe the hope of a common man is the court and justice will be served.

“Well, we will have to work at it. You know they may have their challenges and we will like to sit down with them and understand their challenges and assist them where possible. But one thing is very clear, we won’t bring down a national institution just because of an individual ambition. Governors will come and go but nationals institutions will remain. So, we have to be careful when saying things.

“We have to be serious with local content. we can have our professionals earn foreign exchange for Nigeria by exporting them. And that is the way I will conclude this short address, the next government in Oyo State by God’s grace will take local content seriously. Oyo state money will patronise, utilise companies and resources from Oyo State to execute its projects.

The National President of NSE, Engineer Mokuolu, Makinde and Olaniyan ticket is a big blessing to the state because of their background, noting that it will aid development more than ever experience in the state.

He said “It has been the conviction of the Council of NSE that it is only when engineers get into politics in Nigeria that we can effectively deploy our engineering knowledge to assist our country men and women to deal with the incidence of poverty and promote self-reliance.”

Also, a former president of the association, Chief Olumuyiwa Ajibola said when engineers are at the helm of affairs, “we envisage a significant turnaround in all aspects of governance, which we believe should be knowledge driven. This is guaranteed to deliver foresight in the conception of projects to cope with the political exigencies, as well as value for money in projects implementation, making governance a living experience for all, as well as serving the present and preparing adequately for the future.”