Oyo At 50: APC Alleges Makinde Forced LGAs to Fund 'Colourless' Celebrations with N2.9bn

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised a fresh alarm over alleged financial impropriety by Governor Seyi Makinde's administration, accusing the governor of coercing the state's 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to fund the recently concluded 50th-anniversary celebrations. In a statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the opposition party claimed that a total of N2.9 billion was siphoned from local government coffers to finance what it described as a "colourless" and "shambolic" event.

According to the APC, reliable sources indicate that N90 million was deducted from the federal allocation of each of the 33 LGAs, ostensibly to fund the anniversary project. The party further alleged that an additional undisclosed amount was taken from the state government's treasury for the same purpose. "The question now is; what did they do with over N3 billion? Was it the huge amount the cost of the misplaced air show, lopsided award conferment, colour-riot Ankara uniform for PDP members and one-man show novelty soccer match that justified the amount?" the statement queried.

The opposition party described the entire "Oyo at 50" celebration as a "sham devoid of colour, glamour, and substance," arguing that it served merely as a conduit for the governor and his allies to mismanage public funds. The APC warned Governor Makinde to stop "wasting funds belonging to the Pacesetter State on PDP projects," citing recent expenditures on the PDP National Convention and the provision of new party secretariats as evidence of fiscal recklessness.

These allegations come on the heels of unresolved controversies surrounding the management of the Federal Government's N30 billion Ibadan Explosion Relief Fund, which the APC has also challenged the state government to account for. The party called for an immediate halt to what it termed "wasteful spending" at the expense of the people of Oyo State, urging the administration to prioritize the welfare of the citizenry over partisan interests.