Governor Seyi Makinde, Misplaced Priorities And The Overrated World Class Adamasingba Stadium

By Adebayo Abdulrahman 

Waking up from my bed On the 31st of August 2021, I picked up my phone to check the latest news, the first thing I saw was that Governor Seyi Makinde will commission a world class stadium tomorrow, I quickly checked my dictionary to see the full meaning of a world class stadium. From the definition given to me by my dictionary, I was so hopeful to see a standard stadium that can globally compete.

My taught was that when commissioned, the world class stadium will be the best in Africa, some persons even compared the yet to be commissioned stadium with Stamford Bridge and other world class stadiums. The rate at which the stadium was promoted, my urge about the world class stadium increased.

It was everywhere on social media, throughout the day. I keep seeing it on people’s pages and WhatsApp statuses. To the extent that I saved the pictures of the yet to be commissioned stadium on my phone gallery so that I can always view it.

The Government claimed was that, the world class stadium was reconstructed with the sum of 5.3 billion naira. The level of publicity given to the acclaimed world class stadium made me to call some of my friends living in Oyo State, Ibadan to be precise to go and watch the friendly match. Some of them declined my call while some said they will go and watch the match physically, so that they will see it themselves not social media pictures and videos that are marred with fakeness.

When I saw it on social media that the Government have spent 5.3 billion naira on the reconstruction of the stadium, I was very unhappy that amidst all what is happening in the country, ranging from insecurity, economic quagmire amongst others, a government that was voted for by the people still spend such whooping amount just to reconstruct a stadium that can never have a direct benefit on the people.

To my greatest dismay, I can categorically say it that what was commissioned by Governor Seyi Makinde is a local stadium that cannot be compared with Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos, the Adamasingba stadium is far below standard. In Teslim Balogun stadium football matches are also played during the raining season while the new world class stadium in Ibadan was full of water the day it was commissioned.

The people praising Governor Seyi Makinde needs to move outside to see how it is done globally. The stadium is a waste of scarce resources. Why embarking on a project that doesn’t have any direct impact on the people that gave you the power to lead them.

It’s very disheartening that a democratic Government will waste 5.3 billion naira on a project that cannot be sustainable. You can see how the heavy downpour disappointed Seyi Makinde. He was embarrassed by the rain, it was very difficult for ball to bounce on the 5.3 billion naira world class stadium. Is it that football matches are not played under the rain on a world class stadium. There are a lot of questions begging for answers.

The stadium is just a misplacement of priority, is that what the people of Oyo State need presently, there is high rate of unemployment in the country and Oyo State cannot be left out of this menace that have caused damages to our existence as a nation. Why can’t the resources be used for social empowerment and infrastructural development.

To me I believed a Government that derived her legitimacy from the people need to always initiate a policy that will ameliorate the suffering of her people not initiating a project that cannot be maintained or cannot have a direct benefit on her people.