Makinde exploiting late Akinremi’s name to mask trans amusement park land scam

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has strongly condemned Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent commissioning of a purported housing estate project, accusing him of exploiting the name of the late Honorable Olaide Akinremi to cover up the alleged fraudulent conversion of the state-owned Trans Amusement Park in Ibadan into private estates.

Akinremi, who represented Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives until his death in July last year, was a respected APC member.

First elected in 2019, he also served on the National Caretaker Committee and was reelected in 2023.

In a statement released on Tuesday by the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party accused Governor Makinde of playing dirty politics with Akinremi’s memory and questioned the governor’s ethics ahead of the upcoming polls in Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

The statement reads, “Trans Amusement Park, located in Samonda, Ibadan, was built over 40 years ago as a recreational and tourism facility for the state’s youth. However, Governor Makinde has destroyed this valuable asset and allegedly sold the land to his associates, many of whom are foreigners.

“Preserving recreational spaces like Trans Amusement Park and the Agodi Gardens green reserves is a hallmark of progressive governance. Instead of developing these attractions to boost tourism, the Makinde administration has allowed them to be erased and sold off. We now pray that Bower’s Tower does not meet the same fate.

“Erecting a gatehouse on land slated for sale is no achievement to celebrate. The late Akinremi earned lasting respect through his empowerment of constituents and delivering genuine projects to the area. Naming estates on the expropriated land after him is a crude political stunt, disrespectful to his legacy,” the APC concluded.