Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said on Wednesday, that his administration will retrieve every kobo of the billions stolen from the state by officials of the immediate past administration.
Makinde, who said an estimated N1 billion was stolen monthly during the Abiola Ajimobi administration told those who looted the money to expect agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who would soon be on their trail.
The governor’s comments were contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, who said the governor spoke while kickstarting the construction of the 21km Ajia-Airport-New Ife Expressway road, in Ajia town.
Makinde said that his administration will put in place measures to recover all looted funds to develop the state’s infrastructure, adding that unlike the previous government, which preoccupied itself with how to grab state funds on a daily basis, his administration will drastically reduce the infrastructure deficit in the state within the shortest possible time.
Makinde, noted that the 21-kilometre 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).
He explained that through the APFA approach many projects will be executed in the state, adding that it is the administration’s way of funding some infrastructural projects in the state, by having the contractors fund the projects with their own money while the state repays them over a period of time.
READ ALSO: Oyo Govt To Repatriate Trafficked Indigenes Stranded In Lebanon – Makinde
“What this entails is that the contractor carries the projects’ risk. At the same time, we get quality delivery and quick completion of projects. They will be bearing the risk of getting this project done in a timely manner, while we pay them over the next twenty-nine months. That comes down to roughly N300 million a month. So, while they will complete the project in one year, we have the option to repay in over twice the time.
The statement further quoted the governor as saying : “I heard somebody criticizing us on radio concerning the N100 billion bond 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 everyday they went to the office.
“They spent 96 months in office, that means they have Oyo States 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.”
