I Will Remove Thuggery From Oyo If Elected As Governor- Folarin

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo State for the March 11, 2023 general elections, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin has said that the Park Management System, PMS, introduced by Governor Seyi Makinde of the state is alien to the law.

The third term senator however, expressed satisfaction that the law enforcement agency can curtail any form of hooliganism during and after the elections.

Folarin made this declaration recently, while speaking at a guest forum organised by the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State council.

Some APC chieftains in the entourage of the distinguished senator were former CPS to late governor Lam Adesina, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, Alhaji Sina Alabi a former chairman of the State-owned transport company and Comrade YSO Olaniyi.

It will be recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had proscribed the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and introduced PMS as its replacement.

Folarin, who is currently representing Oyo Central at the Senate, said that the first thing he will do as governor after assuming office on May 29, 2023, is to cancel PMS and re-introduce NURTW because it is the one recognised by the law.

He said that a situation, where motor parks and garages are better than schools is unacceptable, while lamenting that the N4.5 billion spent by Governor Makinde could build 370 schools across the state.

He lamented that a situation where about 50 schools were delisted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, over examination malpractices does not portray the pacesetter appellation of the state.

Folarin said, “PMS is alien to the law. There is nothing like PMS. It is unconstitutional. We know NURTW. On my first day in office, the first thing I will do is to replace PMS with NURTW.

“I don’t have any fear about NURTW. They will be generating money for the government. Coming 33rd out of 36 states in the education sector in Nigeria is bad. A situation where WAEC delisted 50 schools in the state is bad. The first thing is to declare a state of emergency in education and other sectors.

“It is only in Oyo State that motor parks and garages are better than schools, this is unacceptable,” he said.

The Chairman of Correspondent of Oyo State NUJ Chapel, Comrade Adebayo Raji, in his welcome address, disclosed that the Guest Forum, was part of his campaign promises to make the chapel great and generate stories as well as make the chapel buoyant.

He said, “Today is a fulfillment of one of the promises made when I was campaigning that I will make the Correspondents Chapel great and vibrant with the calibre of people that would be featuring on our Guest Forum.

“Here we are, with the help of God and people like Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, who is not only my personal person but big boss; YSO Olaniyi, media aide to Senator Foalrin and my good friend, Wasiu Olawale Sadare, who was my class and course mate at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who is the APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State. I thank you all for your support.”

Senator Folarin, while speaking about the level of insecurity in the state, lamented that such is expected to happen when an ex- convict is made the “head of the so-called PMS.”

“An ex- convict cannot frustrate my efforts to put the state in a better position and I am not scared at all because I know that the security agencies are up to the task,” he said.

He however disclosed that he would put the state in good shape and project 40 years development plans for the state.

While speaking about his chances of winning the next gubernatorial election in the State, Senator Folarin stated that Governor Makinde “has shown his inexperience politically by rushing to pick his candidates.”

“We have ensured that only credible candidates who can win elections were picked from all the political zones in the state,” he said.

– Kunle Bakare