The stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the outer city zone of Ibadanland in Oyo State have cautioned Governor Seyi Makinde to prioritise judicious utilisation of the enormous resources available to the state at the moment, rather than wasteful spending and financial recklessness.
APC stakeholders said the admonition followed controversies surrounding the decision of Governor Makinde to renovate the Agodi Government House with a whooping sum of N63.5billion as well as the payment of N14.3bn to purchase Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan.
According to the stakeholders, the airport is being upgraded by the Oyo State Government and that N42billion had been paid as full project fee at the inception with additional N10billion paid later.
In a communique issued at the end of its quarterly meeting at the New Ife Road Secretariat of the APC in Egbeda local government, on Wednesday, the APC stakeholders stated that Gov. Makinde’s alleged penchant for disregarding due process was not in the interest of the state, stating that his administration has been found to be enmeshed in an unprecedented financial recklessness and profligacy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Oyo state cannot be said to be rich as things stand today even though Gov. Makinde receives over N22billion from the federal coffers in additional to close to N10billion monthly internally generated revenue (IGR).
“With a debt profile put at about N500billion, the present administration keeps wasting resources which should have been used to plan for a better tomorrow. We get huge allocations on account of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government but we fail to save for the rainy days,” the communique stated.
Among signatories to the communique include Alh Kamorudeen Ajisafe JP, Alh. Rasaki Akilapa, Chief Lekan Adeyemo, Alh. Sule Suara, Alh. Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Kunle Jenrade, Comrade Moshood Erubami, Hon. Muniru Adebayo, Alh. Yinka Folarin and Bashorun Billy Ogundele.
Also, the lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Yunus Akintunde, attended the meeting in solidarity with the party leaders.
The highpoint of the meeting was the address by a group of eminent progressives from across the state named APC Peace Advocates led by Chief Wale Ohu and Prince Niran Adeyoju.
The peace advocates emphasised on love, unity and cooperation among party faithful to facilitate the return of the broom party to power in the state in 2027.
Other members of the group who attended the meeting included Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN; Dr. Adepeju Esan, Alh. Bayo Haruna, Prince Gbade Lana, Hon. Hamzat Ogunsola and Engr. Adewale Adeoye.
