Just as the controversies surrounding the handling of the Federal Government’s N30 billion Ibadan Explosion Relief Fund by the Oyo state government remained unresolved, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has again raised the alarm over an alleged financial impropriety which characterised the recently concluded activities organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of Oyo state.
Following the full discontinuation of the regional system of government, Oyo state was created by the military regime of late Gen. Murtala Mohammed on February 3, 1976 while another military administration led by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida carved out a new state named Osun from it on August 27, 1991 leaving Ibadan, Oyo, Ibarapa, Oyo and Oke-Ogun as the main components of the new Oyo state on the premise of which the Makinde administration spent undisclosed amount of money to mark its 50th anniversary some few days ago.
In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary Olawale Sadare Oyo APC warned Gov. Makinde to stop wasting funds belonging to the Pacesetters State on PDP projects “since it is crystal clear that the party is completely paralyzed without any hope of recovery in no time.
“Independent observers have submitted that the whole package of ‘Oyo at 50’ show turned out a sham as it was devoid of colour, glamour and substance but we are not surprised because one cannot give what he does not have. Meanwhile, the aspect that called for concern has to do with the conversion of the same shambolic exercise into a conduit through which public funds were mismanaged and siphoned by the governor and his allies.
“We have it on good authority that a sum of N90million was deducted from the federal allocation of each of the 33 local government councils by Gov. Makinde ostensibly to fund the anniversary project while another undisclosed amount was taken from the coffers of the state government for the same purposes at the same time and the question now is; what did they do with over N3billion? Was it the huge amount the cost of the misplaced air show, lopsided award conferment, colour-riot Ankara uniform for PDP members and one-man show novelty soccer match that justified the amount?
“The same governor prides himself as the new national leader of the PDP when, in deed, he knows that the party is badly injured and comatose. In recent times, Gov. Makinde wasted billions of naira on an illegal National Convention of the PDP and also, he has spent millions of naira on the provision of new complexes for the South West Zonal and Oyo state chapters of the dead party in addition to the purchase of cars and buses which he has donated to party officials and leaders. All these wasteful spendings are the expense of the good people of the state and we call for a stop to it immediately.” Sadare added.
