The African Action Congress (AAC), Oyo State chapter, has condemned Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration over its recent approval of ₦63.5 billion for the renovation of the state’s Government House in Agodi, Ibadan, describing the project as extravagant, unjustifiable, and a cover for grand-scale corruption.

The Oyo State Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved a total of ₦63,479,858,000 for what it described as a comprehensive overhaul of the Government House facilities.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the project seeks to upgrade an “embarrassing and unbefitting” Government House, which has reportedly been abandoned for six years.
However, in a statement issued Thursday by Kayode Babayomi, the Chairman for the AAC in Oyo State, he lambasted the Makinde-led government for prioritising luxury over public welfare.
The party argued that the renovation cost is an insult to the suffering masses, especially amid ongoing challenges in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
“It is deeply disturbing that, at a time when Oyo people are grappling with the rising cost of living, poor schools, and crumbling healthcare systems, Governor Makinde deems it appropriate to allocate over ₦60 billion for the renovation of a Government House,” AAC stated.
The party pointed out that the proposed amount is ₦5 billion more than the state’s entire 2025 health sector allocation, which is supposed to cater to over 7 million residents. It also noted that the figure surpasses the state’s total education budget in 2023 and triples the healthcare allocation from the previous year, which only had a 70% implementation rate.
“This decision exposes the misplaced priorities of the administration. The real embarrassment in Oyo is not the Government House—it is the state of our schools and hospitals. This renovation budget cannot be justified by any reasonable standard,” the statement added.
AAC further alleged that the renovation scheme is a calculated move to pad the budget and divert public funds, stressing that even a completely new Government House should not cost half of the approved sum.
“You don’t need to be a construction expert to recognize this for what it is: systematic looting disguised as development. The figures simply do not add up,” the party said.
The statement also criticised what it described as the misuse of increased FAAC allocations under the Makinde government, saying that higher federal revenue inflows have only led to more waste and elite projects that serve a narrow political class.
Reaffirming its commitment to people-centered governance, AAC urged the people of Oyo State to rise in defense of their collective resources and reject governance defined by corruption and cosmetic projects.
“The true development of any state is not in grandiose buildings, but in the well-being of its citizens. That is the only meaningful legacy a government can leave,” the party declared.
AAC concluded with a call to action, encouraging Oyo residents to demand transparency and mobilize for a change in political leadership.
“We call on the people of Oyo State to hold this government accountable. Makinde’s priorities do not align with the public interest. We must organize and prepare to remove these corrupt actors from our political system,” the statement added.