Former Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly and current Special Adviser on Legislative Matters to Oyo State Governor, Hon. Adejumobi Samuel popularly known as Agbarapo, has faulted the claims by Hon. Ibrahim Shittu, member representing Saki West, alleging that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration obtained a ₦300 billion loan through a “secret” emergency plenary session.
Agbarapo, in a statement in Ibadan on Friday, described Shittu’s allegations as baseless and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public about the workings of the legislature.
He explained that emergency sittings are a legitimate and vital part of the legislative process, often convened to deliberate on urgent matters of public importance.
“It is either Hon. Shittu is ignorant of legislative procedures or he is simply being mischievous.
“Every legislature reserves the power to hold emergency sessions when matters of urgent state interest arise. There is nothing unconstitutional or irregular about that,” Agbarapo said.
The former lawmaker noted that the Oyo Assembly, like other state parliaments across the country, has rules that permit the Speaker to summon members for an emergency sitting.
He stressed that such sittings are not unusual, citing previous instances where emergency plenaries were called to approve supplementary budgets, consider urgent bills, or respond to national economic realities.
Agbarapo further accused Shittu of playing politics with misinformation, rather than fulfilling his duty of constructive representation for his constituents.
“Instead of sponsoring false alarms from Canada or elsewhere, Hon. Shittu should focus on learning the rudiments of lawmaking.
“Emergency sittings are recorded in the House’s journals, members are duly notified, and resolutions are made transparently,” he added.
He also cautioned those hailing the lawmaker to address economic issues logically without political undertone or bias, stressing that cost of living and quality infrastructural projects execution have jumped to a historic record high of over one thousand percent.
He added that while inflatiion rate continues to soar high on a steady pattern, naira to dollar exchange rates has made it economically inevitable for state government to live up to their primary obligations since the removal of fuel subsidy.
He commended Governor Makinde’s financial prudence and the Assembly’s collaborative role in sustaining Oyo State’s economic growth, insisting that the ₦300 billion facility in question is a developmental instrument tied to infrastructural and economic projects, as well as loan financing, not a reckless loan as painted by the opposition.
He noted that loans are essential financial instruments for socio-economic development at all levels of government in Nigeria and across the world. He stated that loans received and looted by corrupt leaders are what the people should condemn
He equally urged the public to continue to show the confidence and trust reposed in Makinde and his administration which he said the governor has continued to carried with “dignity and sincerity of purpose with several legacy projects and landmark socio-economic accomplishments.”
Agbarapo equally urged the people of Oyo State to disregard what he described as “opposition propaganda,” stressing that the legislative process in the state remains transparent and in line with constitutional provisions.