Oyo APC, govt clash over EFCC request for Makinde’s records

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and the state government are locked in a dispute over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) request for records of contracts and financial transactions under Governor Seyi Makinde's administration. The APC alleges that Governor Makinde is attempting to prevent the anti-graft agency from scrutinizing the state's financial dealings over the last seven years.

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Apparently, Governor Makinde thought the mandate to govern conferred on him the right to turn the entire state into his personal estate, as he did not realise there would be a need for accountability along the line.

In a statement, the APC's Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, expressed dismay, calling the governor's actions appalling and shameful. Sadare accused Makinde of acting like an autocrat and trying to shield his administration from accountability. The party questioned why a governor would fear accounting for public resources and listed several projects, including the stadium rehabilitation, Circular Road project, and bus terminal construction, as areas potentially under scrutiny.

The Oyo State government, however, refuted the APC's claims. It stated that its decision to seek judicial clarification on the EFCC's request was not an attempt to obstruct any investigation. This exchange follows a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that set aside an EFCC request for contract details, deeming it a "fishing expedition."

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The question on the lips of many patriots now is: Why would a governor be afraid to render an account of resources given to him in trust to benefit the citizenry?

The APC insists that the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies will eventually investigate alleged fraudulent contract awards and financial improprieties, vowing that no culprit will be spared. They also raised concerns about unremitted deductions from workers' salaries and the sale of government properties. The party challenged the governor to account for all state funds received during his tenure.

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The sleaze which revolves around fraudulent award of contracts, namely, exercise book printing, stadium rehabilitation, the Circular Road project, Agodi Government House renovation, bus terminal construction, Alakia Airport upgrade, illegal sales of government properties, among others, as well as unremitted deductions from workers’ salaries, will be investigated thoroughly, and no culprit will be spared.