GUBERNATORIAL aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state, Mr Seyi Makinde has accused the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration of reckless management of the financial resources of the state and enrichment of few government officials and their friends.
As contained in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Dotun Oyelade, Makinde said the state government misappropriated state funds in all sectors of government especially in health, education and agriculture.
In education, Makinde questioned last week’s announcement of the award of N5.7billion contract to renovate schools in the state, with some schools billed for completion on April 30.
Makinde called for explanations on how the state government would expend N5.7 billion on the renovation in 15 days.
He described the three model schools set to be commissioned as inadequate to address school infrastructure deficit, insufficiently motivated and inadequate teachers.
In health, Makinde said, in spite of N116 billion debt, hospitals remained pitiably underfunded, lacking in drugs, equipment, manpower and in a state of disrepair.
“Part of government propaganda to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public was the announcement last week that N5.7bn contract has been awarded to renovate schools in the state and that a substantial part of the renovation will be completed before the resumption of schools on April 30.
“We want the government to explain how a large chunk of almost N6bn will be expended on the renovation in 15 days. The impression is being given that this arrangement is not only graft inclined but it is money that is already misappropriated,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has chided the recent release of Seyi Makinde as aimed at diverting the attention of the residents of Oyo state from the challenges facing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The party through the Director of Media, Research and Strategy, Dr Abdulazeez Olatunde, said recent statement showed that Makinde had decided to close his eyes to the achievements of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.
The party said the records of the Ajimobi’s administration in health, education remained unmatchable and beat the eight years rule of the PDP.
Describing Makinde as a serial aspirant, the APC said Makinde intended to divert attention away from the challenges he and his party faced.
The statement read, “The latest Press release is nothing but a plan of the writer to divert the attention of the populace from serious challenges facing our serial Aspirant.
“This is a person who contested Senatorial, House of Representative and also Governorship tickets and lost all at various times in the past.
“ This latest Press release as far as our Party, APC, is concerned is just to divert the attention of the populace from the challenges facing his “new ” Party, PDP, where the centre is not holding, both in Oyo state and Nigeria at large.
“However, our Party, APC, has successfully repositioned Governance in Oyo state in the last Seven years to replace the nightmare of Eight years interregnum PDP, his Party foisted on us between 2003-2011.
“In 8years of PDP, 15 Primary Health Centers were created while in 7years of APC, 28 Primary Health Centers were created.
“In 8 years of PDP, 762,908 Patients were treated in PHC in Oyo state whereas in 7 years of APC 1,556,666 Patients were treated.
“In 8 years of PDP, 39,338 Teachers were given Capacity building Seminar whereas in 7years of APC Govt 96,000 were given Capacity building Seminar.
“In 8years of PDP Govt, 50 Classrooms were renovated, whereas, in 7 years of APC Senator Abiola Ajimobi Govt, 350 Classrooms were renovated, 1,636 new classrooms were constructed apart from 3 New Model Schools.
“The best WAEC results in 8 years of PDP was 13.40% in 2010 whereas Oyo Education recorded an 18 years lift under Senator Abiola Ajimobi in 2017 with 59% WAEC Results.
“In 8 years of PDP 130 units of Tractors were purchased but Senator Abiola Ajimobi Govt purchased 338 units of Tractors.
“Today Oyo state is the largest producer of Cassava, making Nigeria become the largest producer of Cassava in the world.
“To round this up, National Bureau of Statistics rated Oyo state as the 4th best state in February 2018, with ease of doing business because of massive Direct Foreign Investment flow to Oyo state.”