Some members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday kicked against the request of the state Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to access seven billion (N7 billon) Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) loan to boost farm settlements in Akufo in Ido Local Government Area and Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the state.
DAILY POST gathered that Makinde had in a letter addressed to the Assembly urged the lawmakers to allow him access the loan in order to develop Akufo and Eruwa farm settlements into farm estates in the state.
The two farm settlements are domiciled in Ido/Ibarapa East Federal constituency where the Speaker hailed from.
The Speaker, our correspondent reports is currently representing Ibarapa East State constituency.
But, some lawmakers, immediately the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin read the letter, kicked against the request as they insisted that the loan should be spread across other farm settlements in the state.
Our correspondent gathered that there are more than six farm settlements in the state.
Other farm settlements, which were not covered in the loan facility included; farm settlements in Ipapo in Oke-Ogun geo-politcal zone, Fashola farm settlement in Ilora AFIJIO Local Government Area, Iresaadu, Ijaiye, and Lalupon in Lagelu Local government area.
Two of the aggrieved lawmakers, Isiaka Kazeem Tunde (Oyo East/ Oyo West) and Dele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju) expressed their dissatisfaction on concentration on the loan to only two farm settlements within only one federal constituency.
The duo noted that there is a need for Makinde to spread the scope and usage of the agricultural loan to other zones in the state and not limit it to Akufo and Eruwa farm settlements alone.
Deputy Speaker, Abiodun Fadeyi and the Minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape in their contributions also called for the extension of the loan facility to other areas across the state.
They equally urged the Executive arm of Government in the state to ensure judicious use of the Agricultural loan to enable it achieve the purpose for which it is sought.
Other lawmakers urged the state Governor to spread the loan facility to take care of other areas.
However, after heated deliberations by members on the issue, the Speaker, Ogundoyin finally ruled that the loan would be approved.
While passing the resolution, Ogundoyin overruled the submission of other lawmakers, stated that the loan facility would be approved as presented by the governor.
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