PRESS STATEMENT BY HON BOLANLE AMINAT SARUMI (BASA) ON THE RECENT OYO STATE GOVERNMENT SPENDING APPROVALS
BASA — Oyo 2027
Yesterday, news broke that the Oyo State Executive Council has approved:
₦63.47 billion for renovating the Government House, ₦131.75 million to employ professional gardeners for green areas, and ₦14.3 billion for installing Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at the Ibadan Airport.
Let’s be clear: Oyo State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for 2024 stood at ₦65.28 billion. Yet, in one sweep, the government has committed nearly the entire annual IGR to a single renovation project.
IF I WERE THE GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE…
I would never approve ₦63 billion of public funds to renovate a building that has remained largely unused for six years—especially when the Governor and Deputy Governor have lived in their private residences throughout their tenure.
Instead, I would leve
rage strategic public-private partnerships. I would convene a roundtable with leading banks, construction firms, and corporations operating in Oyo State. I would challenge them to take ownership of renovating different wings of the Government House. In return, each wing could be named after them, in recognition of their support.
This is how governance should work—innovative, inclusive, and fiscally responsible.
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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) IS KEY
We must stop waiting for the state to do everything. When we empower our businesses and entrepreneurs, we can expect them to support the government in turn—through corporate social responsibility and strategic collaboration. These partnerships will outlive political tenures and become a legacy of mutual growth.
A BETTER WAY TO SPEND ₦60 BILLION
With about ₦60 billion, we can empower 20,000 entrepreneurs across Oyo State with ₦3 million each. That’s 600 entrepreneurs per Local Government Area. These empowered business owners would be legally registered and added to the state’s tax net, each contributing ₦10,000 monthly.
Monthly income for the state? ₦200 million Annual return? ₦2.4 billion Economic ripple effect? Massive
This kind of spending isn’t just economic—it’s visionary. It builds communities, reduces poverty, and creates jobs. What does a lavishly renovated Government House do for the common man? Nothing.
MY CANDID PIECE OF ADVICE
As someone who loves this state and is deeply invested in its growth, I respectfully urge His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde to review this decision. This is not the time for such heavy spending on buildings that will be unoccupied in 2 years. It is a time for legacy thinking, people empowerment, and economic impact.
When the late Governor Ajimobi was in office—may his soul continue to rest in peace—our Governor Seyi Makinde gave him candid advice and possible solutions for a better Oyo. I hope this administration will do the same. This is my own sincere advice as BASA, a daughter of the soil, and a future Governor who believes in inclusive development.
Let us build people, not just palaces
Signed,
Hon Bolanle Aminat Sarumi (BASA)
Governorship Aspirant, Oyo State 2027
Entrepreneur | Fmr Public Servant | Reformer | Philanthropist
June 19, 2025.
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