The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has warned Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde against selling or allocating the Cheshire Home property in Eleyele, Ibadan, to private developers.
SSACO, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, described the reported move as another troubling development in the controversy surrounding the management and disposal of public assets by the state government.
The organisation urged the governor to halt any plan to transfer the landed property to private commercial interests, arguing that strategically located public land constitutes a collective inheritance that should be preserved for present and future generations.
According to the group, recurring controversies surrounding the ownership, allocation and commercial development of public properties in Oyo State have raised questions about the stewardship of public assets under the Makinde administration.
“Governor Makinde must understand that he is a temporary custodian of the people’s commonwealth, not its absolute owner. Public assets are not personal possessions to be disposed of at the pleasure of any administration,” the statement said.
SSACO argued that public properties acquired, developed or preserved by successive governments were intended to serve the collective interests of residents and should not be disposed of solely on commercial considerations.
It maintained that any decision concerning such assets must be backed by transparency, public consultation and a compelling justification.
The organisation also raised concerns about the long-term implications of disposing of public land in strategic areas of Ibadan and other parts of the state, particularly amid population growth and rising demand for schools, hospitals, recreational centres and social welfare facilities.
“What will be left for future generations if every strategically located public property is converted into a private estate, shopping complex or commercial development?” the group asked.
SSACO said government should instead expand the stock of public infrastructure and preserve valuable land for future administrations to meet emerging needs.
“Government should be creating and expanding public infrastructure, not diminishing the stock of public assets inherited from previous administrations,” it said.
The group further warned that the Makinde administration could leave behind a legacy of depleted public properties and unresolved questions if it continues with the alleged conversion of public assets for private development.
It therefore demanded an immediate halt to any contemplated sale or allocation of the Cheshire Home land to private developers.
SSACO also called for all transactions involving public assets in Oyo State to be subjected to strict transparency and accountability standards.
“Oyo State belongs to its people, and its collective inheritance must be protected,” the organisation said.
