A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 2027 gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State, Barr. Akeem Adedeji Agbaje, has faulted Gov Seyi Makinde’s comment describing the ongoing protests by residents affected by the Circular Road project as “sponsored.”
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Ibadan, the legal luminary expressed disappointment that such a remark could come from the state’s chief executive, saying it reflects a worrying lack of empathy towards the people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed in the course of the project’s expansion.
While acknowledging the importance of the Circular Road project in positioning Oyo State for greater economic growth, infrastructural advancement, and trade facilitation, Barr. Akeem Agbaje insisted that the initiative must be executed with a human face and a sense of justice.
He said, “No one disputes the potential benefits of the Circular Road project. It is a significant undertaking that can redefine the state’s commercial and developmental landscape. However, the government must remember that every affected person is a citizen who deserves compassion, dialogue, and fair treatment. Development without humanity is nothing but oppression in disguise.”
Barr. Akeem Agbaje advised the governor against dismissing the genuine outcry of the displaced residents as politically motivated, describing such a statement as insensitive and reminding that the governor’s primary duty as a leader is to protect the welfare of his people.
“It is unfortunate that Governor Seyi Makinde would brand the cries of suffering citizens as a sponsored protest. These are people who have lost everything, their homes, their livelihoods, their stability. What they deserve is understanding and support, not ridicule or rejection from the government they helped elect.”
He recalled that this was the same Engr Seyi Makinde who, in 2018, strongly condemned the demolition of Music House, which housed Fresh FM owned by popular musician Yinka Ayefele, describing it then as a “gross injustice.”
“It is deeply ironic that the same man who once stood against perceived oppression now presides over actions that cause similar pain to his own people,” Barr. Agbaje said.
He urged the state government to revisit its approach by engaging with the affected communities, providing adequate compensation, and ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the pursuit of progress.