The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has raised another alarm over plan by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to cede the Agodi Government Fish Farm to Baywood Estate, an annex of the former conservation forest which was recently destroyed to pave the way for the private property.
The 40 year-old Fish Farm, located in-between the decimated Agodi Gardens and Dandaruu stream in the heart of Ibadan, is a world-class facility housing offices, laboratories, demonstration farms, ponds and training centers for the use of staff, students, prospective and practicing fish farmers. It also harbours the Ogunpa Lake in which varieties of local and exotic fish species are being bred for educational and commercial purposes.
In a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC lamented what it described as Makinde administration’s prodigal orientation manifesting in selling of government land and other properties to cronies for development of private estates.
This orientation also manifests in poor maintenance culture which shows in the deplorable condition of many priced assets of the state as it has been the case since 2019.
“We have uncovered fresh plans by Gov. Makinde and his cronies to expand the private Housing Estate projects around Agodi Government Secretariat which has birthed Baywood Estate. After the destruction of the enviable green zone that protects the environment around the area, the next in the line for Governor Makinde is to level up the Government Fish Farm facility with a view to joining the large expanse of land, which it occupies, with the private estate.
“Gov. Makinde cannot lay claim to any reasonable achievements in the critical sectors of the state economy, including agriculture and environment, and he feels the best way to go again is to destroy a massive fish farm which has benefitted humanity for close to four decades. Trans Amusement Park, Agodi Gardens, BCOS, Oyo State Library Board, Water Corporation of Oyo state among other state agencies have suffered similar fate in the last seven and a half years and the fear of the residents now is about the safety of the Agodi Government Secretariat, Government House and Cultural Centre complex, among others.
“The APC hereby advises Gov. Makinde to suspend his planned ceding of the Government Fish Farm to Baywood Estate and other facilities that have been penciled down for illegal conversion into private property. While we call on Oyo State elders and people of conscience to caution Governor Makinde against adding Fisheries building to sold assets, we advise him and his cronies to get ready to account for all the government lands and properties which have been sold or hijacked illegally.” APC said.
