Oyo Govt House Contract: Why Caution, Not Condemnation, Should Prevail — Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN.
I have read so much about the outcries, outbursts, comments, and reactions that greeted the decision of the Oyo State Government (not GSM as a person) to reconstruct the Oke-Ebo, Agodi Government House for a yet-to-be officially confirmed sum of ₦63 billion (?).
Having been in government before, I understand how government contracts are awarded. Therefore, since I am yet to see the Bill of Quantity of the said contract, the nature and extent of the work to be done, the bidding processes, and the extract of the Executive Council of Oyo State’s approval, I am not in a position to make any informed comment on the propriety or otherwise of the contract.
I will not join the fray of those who have rushed to the media—both traditional and social—to condemn the contract. Doing so at this stage and age of my life may expose and portray me as unfit for the exalted posts that I have held in Oyo State, namely:
Special Assistant (Legal) to Senator (Oba) Rashidi Ladoja (January 2007 – May 29, 2011)
Senior Special Assistant (Legal) to Senator Abiola Ajimobi (June 2011 – August 2011)
Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Oyo State (August 2011 – May 28, 2015)
I am not unmindful of the fact that we are entering a political season, and all hands of politicians would now be on deck to rubbish anybody (incumbent) in power or office for any reason(s)—justifiable, unjustifiable, or even ridiculous. The target is to demonize the incumbent ahead of the forthcoming 2027 election to make him or his candidate unpopular, so that a new party (opposition) can come on board.
But karma has a way of forcing itself on us—just like a river will always find its course, no matter how much humans try to rechannel it.
Our Governor, Engr. Seyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE, this is your own season of karma. The same was done by you or on your behalf to demonize Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Is it not interesting that some of the same people who did it for you against Senator Ajimobi are now conspiring to do the same against you?
That is the law of life: what goes around must surely come around. Was Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s senatorial ambition not sacrificed for a non-performing and ineffectual candidate in 2019? Was Oyo South Senatorial District in particular—and Oyo State in general—not worse off for it? The rest is now history. I am sure Senator Ajimobi is laughing heartily in Aljannah Firdaus now.
All the above notwithstanding, I will not join the bandwagon effect to condemn a contract whose details I do not know. When I see the full breakdown and, if I consider it justifiable and reasonable, I will hail and commend Your Excellency, just as I have done severally in the past over some wonderful projects you have executed across Oyo State.
Truth be told—and it is a matter of conscience—I was one of those who never gave you a chance to succeed as Governor of Oyo State. But you have surprised me and done exceptionally well.
Sir, I give kudos to Your Excellency and I would score and rate you A+.
There is one area many may not notice, but I will say it openly here:
Before you came on board as Governor on May 29, 2019, most of us had our incomes being depleted continually by our unemployed brothers, sisters, and relatives who kept sending their bank account numbers to us for financial assistance.
To the glory of God and to your eternal credit, you have employed most of them—through SUBEB, TESCOM, the Hospital Management Board, the civil service, and other agencies—thus relieving us of those burdens. In fact, some of those formerly unemployed youths are now even sending stipends to us, thanks to your visionary leadership.
Your Excellency, prior to the 2019 general elections, my Principal, Hero, Mentor, Role Model, and Governor for Life—Senator Abiola Adeyemi Akanji Ajimobi, the Koseleri 1 of Oyo State and the Father of Modern Oyo State—invited me to the Government House. This was shortly after we lawfully and rightfully demolished, in part, the Music House of Dr. Yinka Ayefele, MON.
Upon arriving, I was amazed at the great transformation of the building. I asked, “Oga, how and when did you do this magic?” He personally took me on a tour of the entire premises and rooms—it was an architectural masterpiece.
He told me he had intended to demolish the whole building, but the cost submitted by reputable contractors (including Reyog, Bello & Bello, etc.—some of the best in Nigeria) was too high for the state’s resources. Instead, he pleaded with Architect Abass to assist the state with renovation and rehabilitation, which he gladly did. The result was the masterpiece we inspected.
Senator Abiola Ajimobi was urbane, suave, highly exposed, and had top-notch taste. He was an Afinju Eeyan. He lived in that rehabilitated Government House till his last day in office on May 28, 2019.
After that visit, I wrote a piece and posted it on social media, saying that Senator Abiola Ajimobi had replicated the White House at the Agodi Government House, Ibadan.
Your Excellency, I will search for that piece and repost it to serve as a guide as you make your final decision on the proposed Government House contract.
But like I said earlier, it would be preposterous for anyone to comment or condemn a project without knowing its details, scope, and intended impact. Doing so would be petty, childish, and very premature.
I wish Your Excellency the very best—always.
I remain your Obedient Citizen (not Obidient o) and a regular Tax-payer.
Signed:
JCI Senator Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN
Asiwaju of Ita-Ege & Idi-Aro,
Ward 5, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area,
Agba-Ofin of Orile-Igbon Kingdom,
Surulere Local Government Area,
Oyo State, Nigeria.
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