Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said, Wednesday, that his administration was ready to retrieve billions of the state’s funds looted by officials of the previous administration in the state led by late Ajimobi.
The governor, who made the vow while kick-starting the construction of the 21km Ajia-Airport-New Ife Expressway road, in Ajia town, said his administration was ready to put measures in place to retrieve all looted funds to develop the state’s infrastructure.
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The 21km Airport-Ajia-New Ife Express road, with spur to Amuloko, was awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd, at a cost of N8,520,919,776.41.
According to the governor, unlike the previous government, which, he said preoccupied itself with how to corner the state’s funds on a daily basis, his administration would drastically reduce the infrastructure deficit in the state within the shortest possible time.
He added that it was only in doing so that the state can be positioned on the path of economic growth.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the 21km road construction being launched was a product of the administration’s strategic way of reducing the state’s infrastructure deficit, which is known as the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA).
Addressing the criticisms trailing the announcement of N100 billion bond issuance by the state, the governor stated: “I heard somebody criticising us on radio concerning the N100 billion bonds, and was of the opinion that this administration wants to put the state in debt.
“I think our people need to start telling them that Governor Makinde is not like that. For the period of eight years they spent in office, they were only preoccupied with how to corner N1 billion monthly into their private pockets every day they went to the office.
“They spent 96 months in office, that means they have Oyo State’s N96 billion with them. We will retrieve every fund that belongs to Oyo people for the purpose of infrastructure development.
“So, tell them that the EFCC of Oyo State is coming for them. I want to assure you that we will retrieve the stolen money of the state from them and use the funds to build infrastructure like this.”
The special adviser on media to the former governor, Bolaji Tunji said he won’t join issues with Governor Seyi Makinde because today (Thursday) makes it 40 days since the former governor was laid to rest.
He said: “I would not react to this statement because I would not like to display insensitivity. Tomorrow (today) makes it exactly 40 day that my boss, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, was laid to rest. For us and the family, it is still a period of mourning. Suffice to say that such an attack is expected having laid bare the fallacy behind the N100 billion bond.
