The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has warned Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde against any move to sell or allocate the land belonging to Cheshire Home in Eleyele, Ibadan, to private property developers.

The organisation described the reported plan as a source of concern over the management and disposal of public assets by the state government, insisting that properties held in the public interest should not be transferred to private commercial interests without transparency and compelling justification.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, SSACO said controversies surrounding the ownership, allocation and commercial development of public properties had raised questions about the administration’s stewardship of the state’s assets.

It said the reported plan involving Cheshire Home had heightened concerns about the future of public land in Oyo State.

“Governor Makinde must understand that he is a temporary custodian of the people’s commonwealth, not its absolute owner. Public assets are not personal possessions to be disposed of at the pleasure of any administration,” the statement said.

The organisation argued that public properties acquired, developed or preserved by successive administrations should be managed in ways that protect the collective interests of residents and future generations.

It warned that the disposal of strategically located land could limit the state’s capacity to provide essential infrastructure and social amenities amid population growth and rising demand for public services.

SSACO questioned the rationale for transferring public land to private developers when the state would continue to need space for schools, hospitals, recreational facilities, social welfare institutions and other public infrastructure.

“What will be left for future generations if every strategically located public property is converted into a private estate, shopping complex or commercial development?” it asked.

The organisation urged the Makinde administration to preserve public assets rather than reduce the stock of properties available for future development.

It also demanded an immediate halt to any contemplated sale or allocation of the Cheshire Home land to private developers, calling for transparency and accountability in all transactions involving public assets.

“Oyo State belongs to its people, and its collective inheritance must be protected,” the statement added.