Makinde and the Dance Around N63.4 Billion Government House Renovation
Governor of Oyo State,Seyi Makinde
By Shola Abebiji
In Nigeria, bad governance often hides behind pretence. Leaders with questionable integrity are easily identified—not only by their lack of transparency but by their obsession with dragging others down. They see no good in anyone else, blinded by petty rivalries and driven by insecurity.
The latest episode involving Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his attempt to drag Senator David Umahi, the Honourable Minister of Works, into his increasingly precarious political narrative has once again caught my attention.
In a video he personally circulated online—apparently believing he was scoring political points—Governor Makinde accused Minister Umahi of “dancing around” when asked to disclose the cost per kilometre of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Ironically, this is the same Governor Seyi Makinde who reportedly spent a staggering ₦63.4 billion on the renovation of the Agodi Government House in Ibadan. When pressed on the outrageous cost of merely refurbishing an existing structure, Makinde deflected—also “dancing around” the question—blaming it on foreign exchange fluctuations.
Let us now compare: Makinde spent ₦63.4 billion renovating a structure that already existed, while Senator Umahi—during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State—constructed a new, world-class Government House and an international airport for less than that amount. The contrast is glaring.
Makinde’s project reportedly included the reconstruction of some buildings and a few internal roads—already in place before the so-called renovation. Yet, this cost taxpayers over ₦63 billion? Till date, he has failed to provide a breakdown or even disclose the cost per kilometre of the internal roadwork involved.
When further questioned, Makinde cited the volatility of the naira against the dollar, referencing how the servicing cost of a $200 million loan for the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project rose from ₦700 million to ₦3 billion monthly. But this is a distraction. No one asked about the loan’s servicing terms. The real question remains: How much did the renovation cost per kilometre, per structure, per contract? Where did ₦63.4 billion go?
What Governor Makinde has done is not just reckless—it is a gross display of profligacy and disregard for the suffering people of Oyo State. At a time when citizens are struggling with poverty, inflation, and collapsing infrastructure, this level of waste cannot be justified.
Beyond the cost, the priority of such a renovation is also questionable. Why channel such a monumental sum into the Governor’s residence when countless roads remain impassable, schools are underfunded, and healthcare is in disarray?
Governor Makinde, in this scenario, is the real “dancer”not on any political platform—but on the tombs of Oyo’s founding fathers and the many citizens who died of hunger, neglect, and preventable causes. By mortgaging the future of the living for cosmetic upgrades to the seat of power, he has shown where his priorities lie.
Let someone ask Makinde when he plans to appear on Arise TV’s Morning Show to answer the real questions:What was the actual breakdown of the ₦63.4 billion?What was the cost per kilometre of the renovated roads?Who were the contractors, and how were they selected? and How does he justify this expense amid widespread hardship?
Until Governor Seyi Makinde provides clear, verifiable answers, he cannot and should not be taken seriously by the people of Oyo State or any concerned Nigerian.
Written by y Shola Abebiji, Ibadan, Oyo State
