Oyo APC, PDP Disagree Over Library Complex Conversion

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State are at loggerheads over the conversion of a part of the library complex in Dugbe, Ibadan, into a shopping complex.
The Oyo APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the conversion as “sad” and “stunning, shameful, ill-conceived, and grossly unacceptable.t is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.
The APC claimed that the conversion of the library complex into a shopping mall was a clear indication that the state government had relegated education and research development to the background. “The implication of this is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by the same administration, which has refused to address the issue of poor reading culture among young students,” Sadare added.
However, the Oyo PDP, through its acting Publicity Secretary, Michael Ogunsina, countered the APC’s claims. Ogunsina said that part of the plans of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government was to relocate the library from its current location to another place conducive for its purpose.
The PDP argued that the particular part of the library premises where the shopping complex was being built was a bushy area that had been unattended to for many years and had become a haven for criminals and miscreants. Ogunsina said, “The particular part of the library had become an eyesore, and the state government had an agreement with the developer presently working on the shopping complex to build a 200-seater CBT facility inside the library board for the use of the state.”
Ogunsina accused the APC of misinforming the people of Oyo State. “The library board is there and there is nothing that has happened to it. The APC should stop misinforming the people of Oyo State as that will lead them to nowhere,” Ogunsina said.
The PDP also reminded the APC that during their eight-year tenure, they did nothing to renovate the libraries in Oyo State. Ogunsina said, “The APC should be reminded that during the eight years they held sway, they did nothing to renovate the libraries in Oyo State.”
The disagreement between the two parties has sparked a heated debate over the conversion of the library complex into a shopping mall. While the APC has condemned the move, the PDP has defended it, saying it was part of the state government’s plans to relocate the library to a more conducive location.
The controversy surrounding the conversion of the library complex has raised questions about the priorities of the state government and its commitment to education and research development.