I Will Recover N12 Billion Mismanaged By Previous Administration

The Oyo state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has revealed how the administration of his immediate predecessor, Abiola Ajimobi mismanaged billions of funds in Oyo State.

He disclosed this in an interview with Edmund Obilo on State Affairs, a socio-political programme on Splash FM, adding that his administration had to plug loopholes for Oyo state to be where it is today.

He mentioned that one of those loopholes was the ghost workers and pensioners that were removed from the state payroll.

On why he has not charged anyone for such a crime, he said, “At that time, we decided as an administration not to waste our time chasing shadows… ."

Speaking on Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSROMA, Makinde noted that the agency which spends about N44 million monthly and less than half a billion annually got a sum of N7 billion in late 2017 from Paris refund, which he claimed was all spent in 2018 with nothing to show for it.

He disclosed that upon his investigations after speaking with the manager, he revealed that the money was moved from OYSROMA to a Chinese company and rather not spent on recruitment or acquisition of operational needs.

He named the Chinese company Chinese Global, alongside two others that were reported to receive some billions of Naira from the former administration, without supplying anything and are now shut down.

“They stole the money. I am after them right now. As long as you have this Oyo State money with you, I will get it back," he said.

On how he is ensuring that money is returned, Makinde said he had written the EFCC on how Chinese Global did not finish up the projects they were assigned at Benbow Road, Apata and Iddo-Eruwa roads and that they should be compelled to finish them.

Makinde claimed that the company which promised to complete the projects, later reneged on their promise as soon as the former governor, Abiola Ajimobi passed on.

“They are not Chinese, they are from Oyo state here. We know them and very soon, wherever they have investments or properties anywhere in the world, I will go after them and I will collect this money for Oyo State," Makinde insisted.

He added that his administration had directly spoken with the people involved as he promised publicly again that he will go after them and get back the money, which he claimed is accruing to about N12- N15 million for Oyo State.

Meanwhile, when asked if the indicted were the members of the All Progressives Congress, Makinde responded, “Of course they are. They were the ones in government then."