How we increased IGR by N15 billion in two years, by Makinde

• Gov chides Adelabu, others for criticising govt’s approach to governance
• Lead City varsity alumni demand justice over Azeez’s killing

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, at the weekend, said that the state government had increased the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) by close to N15 billion without increasing taxes in its first two years.

Makinde, who disclosed this during the 41st Omo Aj’orosun Day celebration in Ibadan, also explained how he used the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) of his administration.

The governor said that the approach had helped the state in bridging infrastructure deficit, while also helping to expand the economy and increase the state’s IGR.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said that the governor’s disclosure came few hours after Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election, claimed that the state had only increased its IGR by N300 million monthly since Makinde assumed office.

Makinde, who promised to donate a bus to Aj’orosun Club, also urged residents of the state to support government’s efforts on security.

The governor warned those politicising the security challenges in the state, stating that instead of criticising without suggesting solutions, everyone must contribute to make the state safer.

He said that Adelabu’s take on the APFA and resolution of the age-long ownership crisis on the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, were flawed.

He, however, urged the opposition politicians not to pull down the government or destroy the state because of their ambition, saying: “I want to say that God will have mercy on those eyeing this seat. If God wishes to put them on the seat, they don’t need to destroy the state.

“They don’t need to pull down the current government and destroy our state. They should focus on things they know they can do better and sell them to the people of Oyo State.”

MEANWHILE, the Alumni Association of Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Makinde to ensure that justice is served over the murder of Rahman Azeez who was allegedly murdered in a fracas that broke out in Ibadan recently.

This was contained in a statement signed by the association and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The statement stated: “We demand justice for our friend and brother, AbdulRahman. He is an alumnus of Lead City University, and everyone could attest to his meekness. His death mustn’t go in vain. He has two kids in the United States (U.S.) that he had not yet seen and has been planning to meet with them before his death.

“Tempers are rising, and as long as we have calmed family, friends and lovers of AbdulRahman who would not mind to go at any length to seek justice for their very own, we seek the quick action of Governor Makinde. The death of our brother must not be in vain.”