Politics
‘It’s time to resign as threatened’ – Oyo APC chides Makinde over notebook contract scandal
Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Governor Seyi Makinde to resign from office immediately in fulfilment of the promise he made in April this year when the news of allegations of fraud surrounding the awards of contract for the production of exercise books meant for the use of public school pupils in the state was broken by a private organisation.
Dataphyte, an Abuja-based media research and data analytics organisation, had in late March accused the government of Makinde of violating its procurement law in the award of a contract worth N998million in favour of companies linked to him and his cronies.
On April 3, Governor Makinde faulted the reports as he denied any wrongdoing while he also threatened to resign from office as the Executive Governor of the state if found culpable after the investigation. Meanwhile, the state government went ahead a few days later to undertake a similar award of a contract worth N694million to cronies to produce and supply another batch of exercise books.
Piqued by the development, Oyo APC has taken up the governor who the opposition party has alleged as the most corrupt governor in the history of the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the broom party said that “Dataphyte only discovered one out of several cases of fund misappropriation under the 41-month-old government of the PDP in the state.
“What the governor did on April 3 was to diverse the attention of the whole world away from the sleaze. He vowed to resign from office if found wanting when he knew no investigation would be done immediately. This was the same man who had earlier dragged the EFCC to court for carrying out a lawful investigation of a case of fraud under his watch as the governor of Oyo state and with that step, he feels he has obtained the full liberty to be reckless with the state treasury.
“Gov. Makinde neither debunked the allegation by Dataphyte that he paid N2,100 for each exercise book to be produced nor denied the discovery that the beneficiaries of the fraudulent contracts were companies linked to him and his cronies including an Ibadan-based private radio station proprietor who is also a promoter of the PDP and Gov. Seyi Makinde. The same was the case when he claimed to have paid a whopping N9.6billion for 106 units of mass transit buses in 2020. It was later discovered that the cost of each bus was inflated by over 100 per cent while questions were also raised on the actual number of buses supplied and why it took the few ones presented about 20 months to start work on the road.
“Similarly, tongues have wagging lately on how the present administration has prioritized grabbing of pieces of land belonging to the state government as recorded in the case of BCOS Staff Quarters which was seized and sold to a crony of the governor at a giveaway price of N15m per plot only for the proxy to start selling it out at the right market value of N60m per plot. Out of a total of 116 plots, the investigation revealed that 100 went to the governor while the remaining 16 were shared among his friends and lackeys.
“The same Gov. Makinde removed over N20b from the treasury as contact sum for four bus terminals only to deliver two just like what he did to the N5.2b he earmarked for the orchestrated renovation of 10 stadia across the state but managed to deliver only Lekan Salami stadium at Adamasingba, Ibadan. While the good people of the state await the appropriate authorities to beam their searchlight on Gov. Makinde and his cronies, we use this medium to call on the governor to make good his promise and throw in the towel since it has been established that he was guilty of fund misappropriations in numerous cases.” Sadare stated.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to resign immediately, alleging that his recent remarks on state security exposed incompetence and an inability to lead.
Governor Makinde, speaking during his acceptance speech as the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan on Saturday, lamented that he could do little to rescue abducted school children and residents in Oriire Local Government Area due to all security structures being under federal control.
Reacting, APC State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s comments as “the height of cluelessness, insincerity, and criminal ineptitude,” warning that such disclosures reflect a dangerous trend among parochial leaders.
Sadare said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde could not find any fault in the nation’s Constitution, yet he swore twice to protect lives and properties of Oyo people. He has long enjoyed the powers of his office, controlling resources and people without challenge, but now faces a serious test, exposing incompetence, cluelessness, and ego.”
He added, “Instead of addressing security challenges, Makinde is exploiting the situation to push a mirage he calls a presidential ambition in 2027. His insensitive comments once again reveal hypocrisy. It is time he quit the office of the governor, having admitted he lacks the capacity to secure the state.”
The APC also recalled that previous governors, including Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without similar security failures. Sadare particularly praised Ajimobi for establishing a Security Trust Fund to ensure funding and stakeholder involvement in security, in contrast to the current administration.
“Makinde’s presidential ambition is dead on arrival. Our concern is the continued loss, deprivation, and mismanagement the people of Oyo may suffer in the remaining year of his tenure. The state deserves a team player, a sincere and humble governor — qualities Makinde has failed to demonstrate in seven years. He should apologise and step down,” Sadare concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s presidential nomination process.
Makinde emerged through consensus and affirmation by party delegates during the exercise, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity and confidence in his leadership ahead of the next general elections.
The governor was presented with his Certificate of Return by the National Chairman of the APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantali, during a ceremony held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid cheers from party faithful, delegates and supporters drawn from different parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Dantali said Makinde possesses the leadership qualities, administrative experience and vision required to steer the country towards sustainable growth and national development.
He urged party members across the federation to close ranks and intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 presidential election.
The APM national chairman maintained that the party remained committed to presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
According to him, the emergence of Makinde as the party’s flag bearer marked the beginning of a new political movement aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed appreciation to the leadership of the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with stakeholders across political, ethnic and religious divides to advance the party’s vision for national transformation.
The governor assured party supporters of his commitment to inclusive leadership, promising to prioritise policies that would improve economic prosperity, strengthen institutions and enhance the welfare of Nigerians if elected.
Five key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have been appointed to the party’s campaign committee for the 2026 governorship re-election of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.
The Oyo APC leaders on the list include the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, former Senate leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Zacch Adedeji, and Remi Oseni.
The list, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, reflects the APC’s strategy of deploying experienced political figures with strong grassroots networks to ensure a successful re-election campaign in Ekiti.
“These appointments recognise their political experience and commitment to advancing the party’s agenda,” the source within the party said.
The APC committee is expected to coordinate campaign activities, voter engagement, and messaging, positioning the party for a strong showing in the 2026 governorship election.
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