The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has slammed Governor Seyi Makinde for his administration’s decision to allocate a hefty N63.5 billion towards the renovation of the Agodi Government House, describing the plan as an outrageous show of “profligacy, insensitivity, and impunity.”
The party argued that such spending could place unnecessary strain on the state’s economy and questioned the priorities of the state government.
The controversial announcement came last week when the State Executive Council revealed that it had approved the large-scale refurbishment of the Government House. This was accompanied by an additional N132 million to hire professional gardeners for maintaining the greenery around the governor’s residence.
Also included in the latest approvals was a separate N14.3 billion for the procurement of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan.
In a statement issued over the weekend, APC’s state Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, criticised the governor for what the party called a pattern of poor financial judgment and disregard for public sentiment. “All he could do to defend the reckless spending in the name of Government House renovation was to announce another plan to purchase two aircraft for him to monitor criminals from the airspace,” the statement read.
The APC said public backlash had grown both locally and internationally, with many expressing outrage over what they called another instance of wasteful governance. “We watched keenly as concerned individuals and groups across the globe condemned the decision of Gov. Makinde to record another ugly stride in his penchant for financial recklessness and wasting of public funds through the payment of huge sums on white elephant projects and misplaced priorities,” the party noted.
The party also referred to past concerns about government spending, citing a 2019 procurement of 212,505 exercise books for public school students that allegedly cost N2,100 each. According to the APC, this is part of a growing pattern of mismanagement under the Makinde administration.
Critics within the party also questioned the need to spend billions on structures that had already undergone renovations under former Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2017. “All that played out in Gov. Makinde’s official address to the state lawmakers was a futile attempt to cover up a case of brazen corruption and impunity,” the party alleged.
Further concerns were raised about the potential duplication of contracts related to the ongoing Alakia Airport upgrade. According to the APC, the governor had previously allocated N10 billion to the same project and is now committing an additional N14.3 billion, which the party believes may point to “a criminal case of contract splitting.”
On the governor’s suggestion to acquire new aircraft for security surveillance, the party warned that such purchases might serve as a cover for financial misconduct. “The best thing which Gov. Makinde would do is to pay for two new aeroplanes and then bring one tokunboh private jet which would move him and his cronies around the world at the expense of the masses,” the statement said.
The APC urged the governor to rethink his strategy, asserting that aircraft are not what Oyo State needs right now. “What the state needs to combat crime is synergy among stakeholders, motivation of security agents and deployment of relevant technologies,” the party stated.
Makinde defends figure
Makinde, has defended the controversial ₦63.4 billion earmarked for the renovation of the Government House, attributing the high cost to Nigeria’s volatile exchange rate and broader economic instability.
The figure, which has sparked criticism and debate among citizens and stakeholders, was addressed by the governor during a special session of the State House of Assembly to commemorate its second anniversary.
Governor Makinde explained that the project’s cost is a reflection of the current naira-dollar exchange rate, noting that fluctuations in the currency market have significantly impacted financial planning across the board.
He said, “Our economy is bearing the brunt of a weak naira. When we assumed office, monthly repayment on our foreign debt stood at ₦700 million. Today, we are repaying ₦3 billion monthly.”
He pointed out that a major portion of the state’s foreign debt, currently above ₦300 billion, stems from a $200 million World Bank loan inherited from the previous administration under late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. According to Makinde, the loan was secured when the exchange rate was around ₦350 to a dollar, translating then to roughly ₦70 billion.
“But due to the depreciation of the naira, that same loan now requires far more in repayment terms,” he said.
