[Opinion] Oyo govt and the missing vehicles – By Sunday Ogunyemi

WHAT do Mohamed Suharto, Ferdinand Marcos, Mobutu Sese Seko and Sani Abacha have in common? They are all record holders for stealing in public office. They used their positions as presidents to perpetrate what the Oxford scholar, Wale Adebanwi, following the legendary Afrobeat king Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, brands authority stealing.  And if you thought public theft was something a bit remote, particularly in the current “change” regime, you probably were not paying requisite attention to the wanton theft, pillaging and robbery that has been going on in government circles since 2015, disguised as initiatives for the public good. From the billion dollar frauds in the NNPC to the bare-faced fraud in INEC which got N1.2bn for a server but claims it does not exist, it has been cases all along of wanton stealing by felons masquerading as messiahs. This is why the nation was not really shocked when Chief Bisi Ilaka, the Chief of Staff to the Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, alleged that  officials of the immediate past government in Oyo State went away with government vehicles, especially new ones bought at the end of 2018 and early this year. As a result, Makinde, his deputy and other officials of government have been riding in their personal vehicles while engaged in the business of state.

Ilaka said: “From what we have seen so far, the scale of larceny by the last government  was unprecedented. Commissioners have gone away with vehicles; same as the heads of parastatal agencies. A  lot of these cars were bought by the end of 2018 and early this year. When we came in, we felt that most of us who share the political space in Oyo State are one way or the other brothers. So, we didn’t want to go out as if we are witch-hunting anybody. But they are forcing our hand. Even the local government chairmen went away with fridges and TVs. I can’t understand their mindset. They say a fish rots from the head. ” Apparently appalled by the concerned individuals’ failure to heed its gentlemanly gesture, the Oyo State government later handed a 48-hour ultimatum to former public office-holders to return the stolen vehicles to the government pool. Sadly, in his reaction to Governor Makinde’s noble action, ex-governor Ajimobi merely asked his successor to get busy with more serious issues. Speaking at a luncheon organised by the Ibadan Elders’ Forum, Ajimobi said inter alia: “Let him face the job and not talk about mundane issues. Let him look at other issues. Recently, I heard them talk about government officials carting away money, is that the issue that they should face now? Those of you who have his ears should tell him. What we have done, we have done.” With due respect to his position and personality, this utterance is disturbing. How is retrieving stolen government vehicles a ‘mundane’ issue? Not surprisingly, the state chapter of the APC shelved its facile anti-corruption mantra and declared: “How can a serious party be comfortable with the fact that a governor it sponsored into power cannot muster a significant action plan or blueprint but choose to dwell on mundane issues four weeks after inauguration without any sign of promise to deliver?” Is this what Oyo APC is all about?