Over 19 Billion Misappropriated Within The Last Six Months, Oyo PDP Alleges
The Peoples Democratic Party, Oyo State Chapter, has described the recent steps being taken by the outgoing APC administration in the state as barbaric and anti-masses with a clear mission to lay political and economic landmine for the incoming governor, Engr Seyi Makinde.
The party in a statement by its Publicity secretary, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, accused the outgoing government of misappropriation of funds, adding that “Just within the last 6 months, a minimum of N19 billion was misappropriated from the 33 local governments Excess Crude account without recourse to laid down rules and procedure while the Oyo State government hurriedly awarded over N30 billion worth of frivolous contracts after the outgoing governor’s anointed candidate lost the gube
It read “the victory handed PDP by the good people of Oyo State in the just concluded 2019 election is historical and comparable to Arab Spring in the Middle East, hence the Governor-elect and the party’s resolve to treat governance in the next 4 years with all sense of due diligence and seriousness.
“It is on this note that our party, PDP, take a cursory look at looting spree going on at the state and local government level of administration in Oyo State under the watchful eyes of the government officials and most especially Gov Ajimobi, Mrs Ogunesan, the 68 local councils and LCDAs Chairmen and Local government Director of Works.
“Just within the last 6 months, a minimum of N19 billion was misappropriated from the 33 local governments Excess Crude account without recourse to laid down rules and procedure while the Oyo State government hurriedly awarded over N30 billion worth of frivolous contracts after the outgoing governor’s anointed candidate lost the gubernatorial election to PDP.
“If truly Gov Abiola Ajimobi and APC is desirous of progress, development and wellbeing of Oyo State people, he should have limited his outgoing government to resolving the financial challenges facing the six state owned tertiary institutions including Ladoke Akintola University in Ogbomosho, completion of ongoing projects, paying backlogs of salary arrears to pensioners and civil servants and most importantly clear about N300 billion debt his administration incurred in the last 8 years.
“Juxtaposing the above scenario with the suit filed by the APC gubernatorial candidate, Chief Bayo Adelabu, against the overwhelming victory of Engr Seyi Makinde of PDP, it is evident that the reason for the frivolous awards of contracts and post election litigation is to bog down the incoming Engr Seyi Makinde led PDP administration and deprive the state of much needed development gear to take our people out of the miserable poverty level they have been subjected to in the last 8 years.
“If indeed the outgoing government and APC are committed to serve Oyo State people, we expect them to extend hands of friendship to the incoming PDP government by reversing all secret employments and contracts awarded immediately after the election was lost and won. APC should also accept their loss at the poll as the final verdict of the almighty electorates who have decided in their own wisdom to give the PDP candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde, a clear lead in 28 out of 33 local governments election results.
The people in Oyo state should cooperate with Engr Seyi Makinde and allow healthy space for the thriving of developmental governance that will serve the best interest of Oyo State suffering masses, ‘he added.