N10.3B JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT: Misplaced Priority, Siphoning Of State Finances – Oyo APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has condemned, in a strong term, the decision of Governor Seyi Makinde to spend a whopping sum of 10.3 billion Naira on purported improvement of three named road junctions in Ibadan stating that it was not only a misplaced priority but another means of siphoning the financial resources of state.
This condemnation from Oyo APC came against the backdrop of the announcement made on Tuesday by the State Government that Gov. Makinde had approved the sum of 10.3 billion Naira for the redesign and reconstruction of three junctions located in Agodi, Idi-Ape/Ibadan Civic Centre and University of Ibadan areas.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC decried what it described as the present PDP administration’s penchant for wasteful spending, misplaced priority and contract inflation as it has been the case since it came on board in 2019.
“As usual, the whole world woke up to the news of another questionable contract award to the tune of over ten billion Naira on Tuesday and tongues began to wag about the rationale behind junction reconstruction at a humongous amount of money. The term ‘Junction Improvement’ used by Gov. Makinde to explain the conduit through which his administration planned to misappropriate billions of tax payers’ money this time again is itself ridiculous and distasteful.
“There can never be any reasonable justification for any government to waste scarce resources on inanities at a time like this when the masses are being hit by harsh economic realities. Without any transparent bidding process and record of compliance with Due Process law regarding government contract transaction, another heavy sum is taking its flight away from the public treasury in Oyo state. The fact remains that whatever ‘dig and patch’ efforts planned for the junctions marked for improvement cannot justify the amount being earmarked by Gov. Makinde.
“Another sacred fact is that the roads on which the junctions are situated did receive commendable facelifts by the last administration of late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi while said junctions were not left behind. If anything, a modest budget of two billion Naira should be enough for little expansion, erection of functional traffic light and beautification which are required as a secondary intervention. As a matter of fact, there are many important roads begging for attention of the government but they are being neglected for reasons best known to the governor and his team.
“It is recalled that Gov. Makinde had tied many billions of Naira to certain phoney projects in the last 42 months without anything to show after paying heavy contract sums sourced from loans, allocations from the federal government and grants. The same Makinde administration wasted over 28 billion Naira on street lights while they spend close to a billion Naira for the fuelling of generators which power the epileptic facility on weekly basis.
“The latest profligacy happened at a time when virtually nothing works well to the disadvantage of the masses. It happened when the good people of the state agonize over the inferno at Apata which exposed the Oyo State Fire Service Department as lacking modern equipment. It happened at a time when pupils of public primary and secondary schools in the state went on vacation without their report cards because Makinde administration failed to supply stationery and running grants. It happened when the Oyo State Water Corporation could not supply a drop of water to any home or office for unknown reasons.
“The saddest part of it is that states with better managers plan well with their meagre resources and they deliver reasonable dividends of democracy to their respective citizens. Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and few others have done well by spending little to deliver huge infrastructure but reverse is the case for Gov. Makinde. Lagos has just unveiled the largest rice mill in Africa and quite regrettably, Oyo is nowhere to be found”. Sadare concluded.
