Joint town hall meeting causes row in Oyo

Widespread discontent among residents of Oyo and Ogbomoso over non payment of workers’ salaries and arrears running into months, as well as lopsidedness in allocation and creation of new Local Governments Development Areas might not be unconnected with prolonged postponements of town hall meetings by the state government.
Though government had in a recent statement fixed Tuesday for a joint town hall meeting for the people of Oyo and Ogbomoso, which will be held in Oyo town, aggrieved residents are threatening showdown with the government over what they referred to as “high handedness and autocratic style of governance”.
Staffers of Emmanuel Alayande College Of Education, Oyo; Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology (LAUTECH) and its Teaching Hospital both in Ogbomoso are being owed over seven months salaries and arrears, leading to total
strikes embarked on by workers of the institutions.
Also, non completion of Ogbomoso\Takie road,  shoddy completion of owode\Akesan\irepodun roads, as well as abandonement of a radio station project under construction in Oyo town are worrisome to residents.
What is more, the allocation and creation of new local governments development area has further angered Oyo residents, who described the government decision
as “ulterior, lopsided and unthinkable”.
While the town hall meetings across the state are expected to hold in Ibarapa, Ibadan and Oke Ogun Zones, that of Oyo and Ogbomoso have been severally postponed.
 Investigation revealed that the mood of the two towns is unfavourable for such meeting, individuals. In fact, groups and associations are angry about how the state is being governed.
However, the latest Joint town hall meeting at a private Event Centre in Oyo town has raised some posers among residents of the two towns.
In Oyo town, residents who are opposed to the meeting wondered why an obscure area was chosen for a
town hall meeting when the reconstructed anxient Atiba Hall with enough space is left unutilised.
According to them,”in other zones where such meetings were held, town halls were the venues. So, why is our zone different? It is a testimony of the fear of angry mob envisaged by the government. We will moblilise against the kangaroo meeting. It is a ruse”.
Some Ogbomoso residents said:”What is inspiring about this
government that can compel any right thinking person to travel to Oyo from Ogbomoso for an unmerited town hall meeting? For seven months running, our children can’t go to school at LAUTECH, while over 70 consultants in its teaching hospital are ready to resign enmasse, all
due to non payment of accumulated salaries and arrears. We have a governor who has not explained to us the state of affairs in this state. Besides, why is it that Oyo
and Ogbomoso zones have to be merged when other zones had theirs separately? Who will bear the cost of transportation to and from Oyo?”
Meanwhile, findings at the Alaafin Of Oyo’s palace indicated that neither the paramount ruler nor his subject has been communicated on the proposed joint town hall meeting in the ancient town.
Findings at the Soun Of Ogbomoso’s palace also revealed that indigenes of the town are not aware of a joint meeting in Oyo.