…ignore Adeleke’s fake lamentations-govt
Less than 24 hours after he had recieved his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Governor-elect of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has alleged that the out-going Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his allies have begun looting and diversion of government assets and property.
In a statement by Adeleke Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor-elect urged public to be vigilant on clandestine plots to convert public property to private ownership and disable the state finances before change of government in November, 2022.
Olawale said, “We have it on good authority that Osun state assets within the state, Kogi, Lagos, Abuja and outside the shore of the country are being tampered with for private acquisition. We have detailed reports of several properties currently being processed for ownership transfer involving serving commissioners and top government officials, hence serious warning to those involved in the illegal deals.”
He added that other reports also indicated several shady conducts within the finance ministry, revealing that aside N17 billion loan allegedly taken by Oyetola to prosecute the last election, there were reports of “emergency contract awards, hurried processing of payments vouchers and a grand agenda to incurr further debt under the guise of project implementation. There is an elaborate plot to further bankrupt the state to complicate governance under the new administration.”
He stressed, “Every government official from top to bottom will be called to account for their deeds and handling of government’s assets. We specifically warn bureaucrats to safeguard their career by refusing to collaborate with any appointed and elected officials engaging in such criminal conduct.
“We also wish to alert the public on this subject matter. Let the public be aware that our common patrimony is being tampered with by an administration they just voted out of office. We promise to follow this matter closely and ensure that Osun assets remain secure and protected for the benefits of the public.”
However, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, in a release, acknowledged Adeleke’s statement but punctured the allegation, noting “we know where Senator Ademola Adeleke, the governor-elect, is coming from, and the world also knows the antecedent of the incumbent governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the hardworking leader, who has served the people of Osun State meritoriously. He does not have the background of pilfering or misappropriating funds. The records are there for verification.”
Egbemode further said the press statement was issued to poison and heat up the polity, defending that at no time had the government taken N17 billion loan to prosecute the election and that no government official had embarked on looting or diversion of government assets/property.
She explained, “Those who are suddenly realising the enormity of governing a state like Osun should own up to their fears rather than making laughable allegations. Oyetola has creatively managed the assets of the state in the last three-and-a-half years and has picked all the bills of the state without taking loans. Why would he start taking loans at this time?
“Oyetola’s government remains a responsible one that has discharged its duties meritoriously, to the admiration of fellow governors, including those in the opposition. It is time for Mr. Adeleke to tell the people how he intends to govern them rather than trying to blame everyone but himself for his fears. Given his admiration for his newly-learnt expression, “fact check”, we extend a call to Mr. Adeleke to show evidence of pilfering or looting to the people of Osun to prove that he is a man whose words have atoms of believability.
“Governor Oyetola already has a reputation, Mr. Adeleke is the one trying to build one for himself. It is a more strategic option to build in silence.”
Leave a Reply