The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has implored elders and well-meaning citizens to stop Governor Seyi Makinde from ceding the 40-year-old Agodi Government Fish Farm in Ibadan for private use.
The party alleged that the farm is being targeted for Baywood Estate, a private housing project linked to the recently cleared Agodi forest reserve.
The action was conveyed in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare.
He said the Fish Farm, located between the demolished Agodi Gardens and the Dandaru stream, houses offices, laboratories, demonstration ponds, training centres and the Ogunpa Lake where varieties of local and exotic fish species are bred for educational and commercial purposes.
“We have uncovered fresh plans by Gov. Makinde and his cronies to expand the private Housing Estate projects around Agodi Government Secretariat which has birthed Baywood Estate. After the destruction of the enviable green zone that protects the environment around the area, the next in line is to level up the Government Fish Farm,” the party quoted in the statement.
It described the alleged move as part of a pattern of selling off state assets and poor maintenance culture since 2019, citing the fate of Trans Amusement Park, Agodi Gardens, BCOS, the State Library Board and the Water Corporation.
The party said residents now fear for the safety of the Agodi Government Secretariat, Government House and the Cultural Centre complex.
It urged elders in the state to prevail on the governor to halt the alleged ceding of the Fish Farm and other public facilities for private use.
“Gov. Makinde cannot lay claim to any reasonable achievements in agriculture and environment, and he feels the best way to go again is to destroy a massive fish farm which has benefitted humanity for close to four decades,” the statement added.
It advised the governor and his associates to prepare to account for all government lands and properties allegedly sold or converted.