x

Group Condemn Oyetola Over Silence On Project Refund

By Richard Ayinde, Osogbo.

A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, The Progressive Minded Forum, has described the silence of the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on the refund for Federal Government roads constructed by Rauf Aregbesola as shameful and hypocritical.

The group in a press statement issued on Monday and signed by the Coordinator, Sunday Oriowo, said the silence of the state government on the refund is not only hypocritical but irresponsive and irresponsible of a government claiming to be transparent and prudent on finances.

The group stated that it is morally wrong for Oyetola and his cabinet members not to disclose the refund on the projects done by Aregbesola when they are casting the previous administration on the controversial debt profile of the State.

It will be recalled that the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state, Mr Sikiru Ayedun, had last Thursday accused the state government of receiving a some of N48bn refund for the roads constructed by Aregbesola from the Federal Government.

The press statement reads in parts: ” Instead of the misleading notion that all Aregbesola left for the Oyetola’s administration is debt, a fair and sincere person with conscience would have come out to state that the former governor also left assets that have so far yielded N11.9 billion (according to the Finance Commissioner) or N13billion (according to the Works and Transport Commissioner) on roads alone.

“We are sure that there are other billions of naira that the Oyetola’s administration would have collected as refund for some of the Aregbesola’s interventions in health, agriculture, education etc.

“As a matter of fact, we know that the much talked about rehabilitation of Primary Health Centres in the state was part of the assets left behind by Aregbesola. It is a known fact that the Aregbesola’s administration won the $20million Save One Million Lives (SOMIL), a World Bank Project, at the tale of his administration in 2018.

“The fund is currently being used by Oyetola administration to rehabilitate Primary Health Centres and presenting it as a major achievement without giving credit to Aregbesola. We challenge the state government to make full disclosure of amounts it has received on the projects done by Aregbesola in roads, health and other sectors.

“It is obvious that the Oyetola administration is reaping the profits of the Aregbesola’s projects and programmes, but does not have the courage to disclose it because of the politics of hatred and pull-him-down being played against his benefactor.

“It is shocking that the state government received such amount of money and decided to keep quiet – it is shameful and hypocritical. The forced admission of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration that it had received a sum of N11.9 billion refund for the Federal Roads constructed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola when he was the governor of the state was very embarrassing to the government and the good people of the state of Osun.
It is more embarrassing to see two Commissioners working for the same government quoting different figures.

“While the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Remi Omowaiye claimed that N13billion has been refunded, his counterpart, the Finance Commissioner, Mr Bola Oyebamiji quoted N11.9billion. One sure fact is that, there were refunds. The quoted figures were perhaps for political correctness.

“It would not be out of place to ask the governor whose employees are quoting different figures to officially inform the good people of the state of Osun, the total refunds by the Federal Government on the Federal roads constructed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“The Governor should come forward and summon the courage to declare the actual amount that the state government have received on the assets left behind by Aregbesola. We believe that there are other accruals to the state that the Oyetola administration is not disclosing because of the politics of bitterness the governor and his team are playing.

“If the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Sikiru Ayedun did not state that Oyetola had received N48bn refund for the roads constructed by Aregbesola, the government would not have disclosed any refund.

“We consider the silence of the state government on the refund as not only hypocritical but irresponsive, and irresponsible of a government claiming to be transparent and prudent on finances. It is also morally wrong for Oyetola and his co-travellers not to disclose the refund on the projects done by Aregbesola when they are bitterly casting the previous administration on the controversial debt profile of the state.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Scrabble Stars Battle for N10m at Gov. Diri Championship

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa Top Scrabble players from across Nigeria...

Northern CAN Leaders Visit Benue, Reject ‘Herders-Farmers Clash’ Narrative

...Pledge sustained advocacy...“Your presence is Christ sitting with us”...

Expect More Development — Gov. Aliyu Assures Sokoto Residents

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State...

We Have Brought Inclusive Development to Plateau — Governor Mutfwang

By Israel Adamu, Jos The people of Plateau State made...

NYSC Is the Thread Binding Nigeria’s Diversity” — Gov. Diri

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri,...

What’s the Best Age for a Man to Get Married? Here’s What We Found

Marriage is one of the most significant milestones in...

Nurses Suspend Nationwide Strike – Health Minister Confirms

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img