By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has expressed dismay over Governor Seyi Makinde’s alleged spirited efforts to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from examining the records of financial transactions involving his administration in the last seven years, stating that the development was appalling and shameful.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, had, last Wednesday, granted a prayer sought by the State government to prevent EFCC from obtaining the financial details of all contracts awarded by the Makinde-led administration from 2021 to date, while this was reported by the governor’s media office as an indication that the anti-graft agency had been barred from carrying out investigations on any allegations or suspicion of corruption involving state officials and others.
In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC berated Gov. Makinde over “attempts to prevent the anti-graft agency from carrying out its statutory duty, as it concerns investigating how the funds that accrued to the state were spent within a specific time, even when it is an undeniable fact that accountability matters in public administration.”
The APC has so often picked holes in the governor’s actions or inactions in administering the South-West state, which it seeks to take over next year when Makinde’s second term ends.
The party stated: “Apparently, Governor Makinde thought the mandate to govern conferred on him the rights to turn the entire state into his personal estates as he did not realise there would be need for accountability along the line.
“He began on the path of autocrat who would never be questioned for his actions and inactions in office. The latest episode of his war against anti-graft agencies leaves much to be desired as Oyo State prides itself as the Pacesetters.
“The question on the lips of many patriots now is: Why would a governor be afraid to render account of resources given to him on trust to benefit the citizenry? What size of skeleton does Governor Makinde have in the cupboard that he is keeping away from us? The truth is that he can only run, but he cannot hide.
“EFCC and other anti-graft agencies will do their work at the appropriate time and all the lid will be blown open.
“The sleaze which revolves around fraudulent award of contracts namely, exercise book printing, stadium rehabilitation, circulated road project, Agodi Government House renovation, bus terminal construction, Alakia Airport upgrade, illegal sale of government properties, among others, as well as unremitted deductions from workers’ salaries will be investigated thoroughly and no culprit will be spared.
“Very soon, Governor Makinde will be made to account for every kobo of Oyo State money which he has received in the last seven years,” Sadare said.
