Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has vowed to recover N96bn allegedly stolen from the state during the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, the late Abiola Ajimobi.
Makinde accused Ajimobi’s administration of stealing N1bn monthly for 96 months in the state.
The governor said this on Wednesday, July 5, 2020, while speaking at an event to kickstart the construction of the 21km Ajia-Airport-New Ife expressway road, in Ajia town.
He said the funds once retrieved, the funds would be used for infrastructural development in the state.
Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor quoted him as saying that his administration would reduce infrastructure deficit in Oyo state.
He said, “In order to achieve this, we must strategise on how to increase our spending on infrastructure because what we collect from Abuja every month from federal allocation is not even enough to pay the salaries. So, the new strategies on how to increase our spending on infrastructure are what we are doing here in Oyo State.
“I heard somebody criticizing us on the radio concerning the N100bn 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 N1bn monthly into their private pockets every day they went to the office.
“They spent 96 months in office; that means they have Oyo States N96bn with them. We will retrieve every fund that belongs to Oyo people for the purpose of infrastructure development.
“So, tell them that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.”
The late Senator Abiola Ajimobi was the governor of Oyo State from 2011 to 2019. He died on Thursday, June 25, 2020.