A Former Commissioner for Works under Governor Ayodele Fayose’s administration in Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Ogun has expressed her dismay over the current situation in Nigeria.
Ogun said this on Wednesday while answering questions from Journalists in Ado Ekiti.
She clarified that despite assurances of programmes to transform the country, Nigeria has regressed due to insecurity, hunger and economic instability in the country.
She questioned government’s decision to stop providing subsidies, which was meant to improve Nigeria, as an excuse to defraud Nigerians.
According to her, “there is a social investment programme where money obtained through subsidies is returned to the states in order to deceive us. How many people are actually receiving the cash by the time we allocate them to individuals? Instead, they ought to use that money towards microloans and infrastructure projects that will empower individuals. However, villages housing thousands of people receive five to ten bags of rice instead”.
In addition, we have to deal with the issue of long queues in Ekiti, especially Ado-Ekiti at the petrol station due to continuously fluctuating prices, which has made matters worse rather than better.
She dispelled rumours that the main opposition party in Ekiti state, the people’s democratic party has been weakened by the hiring of some stakeholders by the current administration saying there are still a great deal of honourable men and women who are willing to confront criticism at any time and work for the success of the party.
She also hinted that party members from all zones are uniting to rebuild the party and make it more formidable in future elections.
“Things in Ekiti were better during the PDP government. You would hardly hear about insecurity in Ekiti because the PDP administration was responsible for the infrastructure development. Ekiti State can become a better state if we make the most of every opportunity.
She added that the APC led administration has not done better than the PDP using the metrics of security, education, agriculture, and economic stability to rate the two administrations.
“it is zero in Ekiti, while PDP was in administration, in terms of education we were number one in WAEC, NECO, and a science Examination, students of public schools from Ekiti went to represent the state in the US. The standard has come down.” In terms of agriculture, We can feed our neighbouring state, we can convert our products, create industries that can convert our products and at the same time reduce unemployment in the state.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for local government in Ekiti state, Folorunso Olabode has commended the administration of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring Nigerians that things will get better when we shift attention to production.
He said Nigerians are reaping the benefits of electing a credible and prepared leader to paddle her Affairs.
He also advised the federal government to focus more on reviving the agricultural sector in the country.
