The Oyo State government has condemned what it described as the deliberate exclusion of Governor Seyi Makinde from the flag-off ceremony of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road dualisation project held on Monday in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement issued by the commissioner for information, Dotun Oyelade, the government said reducing the event to a political gathering was taking politics too far.
The flag-off ceremony took place at Idi Ayunre in Oluyole LGA and was attended by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who represented President Bola Tinubu and the minister of works, Dave Umahi.
Other dignitaries included the APC gubernatorial candidate in Oyo, Sarafadeen Alli and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
According to Mr Oyelade, the absence of Mr Makinde fell short of its edifying billing because of the desperate political undertone borne out of a lack of sagacity and confidence.
The commissioner faulted the explanation that the governor was not invited because he was on leave, describing it as ridiculous, given that the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, who is acting governor, was available.
“The exclusion is unfortunate. The course of 2027 is set, and no level of indecorum or desperation from whatever quarters will hold back the will of the people,” Mr Oyelade said.
The commissioner added that Mr Makinde remained unperturbed and regretted that the event, which should have been about infrastructure development for the people of Oyo and Ogun States, was reduced to a political jamboree.