“…we beg Gov Makinde to please release Agodi Gardens to us”
IBADAN -The Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Tourism Board, Mogaji Abass Oloko has revealed that the Tourism sector suffered untold neglect under the previous administration in the state.
In an EXCLUSIVE CHAT with ametrocopy, Oloko said the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi had no interest in the development of Tourism in the state adding that Oyo state did not participate in most annual festivals in the last eight years.
“All the ceremony in Abuja, the Abuja festival, Calabar festival, the former governor doesn’t care. We just came back from Edo state, our boy came first. Oyo state is not so much on culture and ceremony.”
Speaking on the management of Agodi Gardens, Oloko appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to return the supervision of the Gardens to the Board noting that former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration transferred its overall management to the Governor’s office.
“We plan from here to tell our able Governor to please return Agodi Gardens to us. The former Governor took it to the Governor’s office direct. You know that Executive power is very tough. Under the 1999 constitution, the Governor can do anything. We went to Edo state three days ago, when they announced the appearance of the Commissioner, they said the Commissioner for Health and Tourism. The Executive power is very powerful”
Mogaji Oloko who was Vice Chairman, Oyo state Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) under the immediate past administration said the Ajimobi-led government failed to upgrade the Cultural Center after a sum of #800 million was requested for the rehabilitation asking the management to seek Private Public Partnership.
Chief Oloko also revealed that the Tourism Board had begun the revenue drive by enforcing payment of dues from Hoteliers across the state.“The first day we went out in Ibadan, we realized #1.5 million, the next day 850 thousand, now we are in Oyo, maybe Friday Ogbomoso.”
