The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde over his administration’s decision to spend N63.5 billion on the renovation of the Agodi Government House, describing the move as wasteful and insensitive.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC condemned the approval, stating it reflects a level of profligacy and disregard for the economic realities facing the state.
The Oyo State Executive Council had last Wednesday announced the approval of N63.5 billion for a comprehensive overhaul of Government House structures, alongside N132 million for the hiring of professional gardeners to maintain green areas and other parts of the governor’s residence.
An additional N14.3 billion was also approved for the purchase of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan.
Sadare accused Governor Makinde of treating the people of Oyo State with disdain, adding that instead of addressing pressing developmental issues, the governor was justifying the spending spree by proposing the purchase of two aircraft to purportedly monitor criminal activities from the air.
Sadare said, “We watched keenly as concerned individuals and groups across the globe condemned the decision of Gov. Makinde to record another ugly stride in his penchant for financial recklessness and wasting of public funds through the payment of huge sums on white elephant projects and misplaced priorities.
“Interestingly, most of those who did not take us seriously when we raised the alarm on the production of 212,505 copies of exercise books for public school pupils at the rate of N2100 per copy in 2019 are now the leading voices against the same Gov. Makinde.
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“To make the matter, Gov. Makinde failed to justify the decision to expend so many billions on the renovation of structures which had been built to last for decades, several years ago and renovated to taste by the immediate past administration of the ever-neat and classy Senator Abiola Ajimobi in 2017.
“All that played out in Gov. Makinde’s official address to the state lawmakers at the Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday was a futile attempt to cover up a case of brazen corruption and impunity.
“At the same time, Gov. Makinde has a lot to tell the world about a criminal case of contract splitting which has been established in the ongoing upgrade of Alakia Airport because he has not explained why he had to release another N10billion and now N14.3billion for the same project estimated to gulp N14.3billion to complete and after full payment had been made, the governor keeps making fresh budget as extra billions are being paid by the state government.”