The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has requested for the intervention of the nation’s two (2) Anti-graft agencies, ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) and EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) to embark on an immediate perusal and scrutiny of different states of the federation by their respective preceding governors. This is coming on the heels of the incumbent governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde’s disclosure on Thursday confirming the recovery of 14 vehicles taken away by the officials of the last administration. The recovery followed the expiration of an ultimatum given to the officials of the last administration by Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a release issued by the Anti-graft organization’s Coordinator for Media and Publications, Adegboyega Otunuga on behalf of the Centre’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, he stated, “In almost all the about 29 (Twenty-Nine states) of the federation where elections were held on March 2019, the respective successors have cried out loud over the unmitigated and reckless looting perpetrated by their predecessors. While in some states, contracts were awarded without any regard for due diligence or attempts at fostering accountability, in others, even properties and other valuable assets belonging to the states were simply expropriated while humongous sums of money suddenly developed wings without any remorse by the state executive officers. In Oyo State, where Mr Seyi Makinde, a People’s Democratic Party Candidate defeated his counterpart from All-People’s Congress (APC) he cried to the high heavens on realization of the unprecedented looting and disappearance of the state’s official vehicles (running into billions of Naira) that suddenly disappeared shortly before his swearing-in ceremony. The story is not in any way different even in Ogun State, Edo State, Imo State, etc., and many others where candidates from the same party as the out-going governors won their elections.
“However laudable and commendable the cries of these governors have been about the illegal and highly reprehensible looting of the people’s wealth by their predecessors, as a concerned anti-corruption coalition in the country, many of the state governors have publicly declared their lack of resolve to openly probe and bring to book this odious stealing of the state’s wealth. Examples are Ogun state and Oyo state where governors (Messrs.) Dapo Abiodun and Seyi Makinde respectively have come out to insist that such probe routine would only serve as a‘ distraction and an encumbrance towards providing their people with dividends of democracy and fulfil their electoral promises to the people. As reasonable as this ‘forgive and forget’ approach to reckless treasury lootings by public office holders may sound, it portends danger to the idea of accountability and war against corruption of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It is in this wise that CACOL now beckons on the two anti-corruption agencies, the EFCC and ICPC to, without much ado, swing into action and perform their statutory duty by investigating this obnoxious looting and eventually bring the culprits to book in any affected states.”
The CACOL boss added, “It is only in this country one would witness such colossal heist by state actors and accusations by the incumbent governors would be criminally ignored by the alleged culprits. Any attempts by the anti-graft agencies to ignore such cries would not only be tantamount to a rewarding crime, but it would also send a wrong signal that public office holders could loot their respective states with impunity without any fear of repercussions. Aside from the dire consequences, this would have on the state’s ability to deliver quality leadership to the people, it gives an impression that politics or leadership in our clime is for personal aggrandizement and treating the mass, in whose domain sovereignty rests, with contempt is normal. May God never allow this country to finally become such a banana republic. This is why this patriotic call has become urgent and critical.
