APC accuses Mimiko of plans to loot treasury

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has raised an alarm over contracts being awarded by the outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The party accused Mimiko of trying to siphon state fund at the tail of his eighth-year tenure.

The publicity secretary of the party, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, alleged that contracts worth billions of naira were being awarded to a crony of the governor as a means to further empty the state treasury.

“The outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko has concluded plans to award contracts worth N62 Billion between now -November 2016 to February 2017 when he would be vacating office as the Chief Executive Officer of the State.

“Among the contracts to be awarded is the 28KM ABOTO-ATIJERE road, in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, to the cost of N12billion, given to ZHIJIANG Construction Company Ltd, that Governor Mimiko will sign-off this week without bidding.

“The Governor’s plans is to pay 75 per cent upfront of the total contract sum without following due process as a way to embezzle the state fund and leave the treasury empty for the successor government. This is against the social contract he swore with the people.

“We were reliably informed that ZHIJIANG Construction Company Ltd is owned by a close ally of the Governor but in a matter of days, our investigation will confirm this among other corrupt plans of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to plunge our state into serious financial debt after his tenure” Adesanya said.

He called on the anti-graft agencies to begin a deeper investigation into the outgoing government of Mimiko and his cronies, ZHIJIANG Construction company Ltd.

“Our party, APC shall keep close watch of the Governor and his cabals and continue to expose his shady deals,” he said.

Reacting to the allegation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Eni Akinsola, said he could not provide any information on the contract.

“I do not have details if there is such contract but I know there are Aboto and Atijere towns in Ondo State,” he said.