The Osun state Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked claims that the state government violated state procurement law, adding that the accusations from the main opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC) Osun state chapter has no proof.
During a press conference held at PDP Secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital on Tuesday, PDP State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi made clarifications and strongly emphasized that Governor Adeleke is a leader of due process, rule of law and someone who has fear of God.
In his speech, the chairman stated that; “Before we answer Osun APC, the lying machine, point by point, we want to remind the public that Osun APC left the state in comatose, with massive debt without anything to show for it. We met a legacy of unpaid pensions and half salaries as well as a deep infrastructure deficit.
” Oyetola and his men looted government quarters and illegally chartered away government vehicles. Like I said in my statement on Monday, we did not probe the multi billion naira fraud and looting by the former governor because we are interested in rescuing our dear state.
“We are constrained to call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to launch a full probe of the Oyetola government. It is time to expose to the public the legacy of fraudulent administration left behind by former Governor Oyetola.” He noted.
The statement signed by the chairman on Tuesday reads;
HOW APC LIED
APC: OSUN HAS BECOME A LAUGHING STOCK AMONG DECENT PEOPLE
FACT: A recent publication by ThePunch Newspaper indicated that Osun was among a list of few states in Nigeria that could pay salaries of its workforce without waiting for the monthly FAAC allocation. This was possible because the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Osun has grown by more than 50% since Governor Adeleke assumed office yet did not burden the people of the state to achieve such significant development. It would be recalled that Governor Adeleke initiated a series of reforms upon assuming office, primarily to block loopholes and free up more resources for the use of the state.
It is important to also note that Osun is one of the about 15 states in Nigeria that has implemented the payment of wage award as a part of measure to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government. This is in addition to the implementation of the financial benefits of the promotion given to civil servants by the administration of Gboyega Oyetola but which he failed to implement for over three years.
If there was anytime when Osun was a laughing stock among decent people, it would be when the APC held sway and wickedly denied workers and pensioners their due entitlements, creating a distressing situation that led donors within and outside the state to donate foods and other support to the deprived.
GOVERNOR ADELEKE CONVERTED RUNNING THE STATE INTO HIS EXTENDED FAMILY ENTERPRISE, WHERE PROBITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND OPENNESS WAS NOT REQUIRED
FACT: On December 15, 2022, Governor Ademola Adeleke opened up the financial book of Osun state to the people through the traditional rulers across the state. The move was an unprecedented demonstration of transparency and accountability never seen before in the history of Osun state and this fact was acknowledged by traditional rulers at the event. Also on October 5, 2023, Governor Adeleke disclosed the receipt of a N7bn refund from the federal government to the people during Ipade Imole. Under the previous government, particularly the one led by Gboyega Oyetola, the finances of the state were shrouded in secrecy. It took the exposure of a faction within the APC before the then Oyetola administration acknowledged receiving over N11bn refund from the federal government and yet, Osun people do not know exactly how the fund was utilized.
It is public knowledge that the Adeleke family are enterprising, with several known businesses in Nigeria and abroad. The Osun APC should stop seeing the Adeleke family in the image of that of the former governor whose members of family have no known source of engagement outside government, cornering almost everything to themselves including printing jobs at the secretariat while it was at the helm.
GOVERNOR ADELEKE EARMARKED N14 MILLION PER BOREHOLE ACROSS OSUN
FACT: At Ipade Imole on October 5, 2023, Governor Adeleke countered the lies of the Osun APC by disclosing that a borehole drilled across the 332 wards cost N1.5 million. For the purpose of emphasis, Governor Adeleke said “Each borehole costs one million, five hundred thousand naira. The boreholes are functioning and serving the immediate water needs of our people.”
The Osun APC must however be desperate to have manufactured lies on the cost of boreholes or trying to remind Osun people of the fraudulent borehole projects undertaken by the Oyetola administration, which despite charging Osun people twice for the same borehole, still ended up not delivering good boreholes across the PHCs as revealed by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting in its October 2023 investigative report.
DR. DEJI ADELEKE AND DAVID ADELEKE (DAVIDO) LINK TO MULTI-BILLION PROJECT
FACT: Few weeks ago, the Osun State Government released details of companies awarded the first phase of projects in the multi-billion infrastructure plan of the state. The companies have undergone rigorous scrutiny of journalists and conscious citizens, and there is no established link of any of the companies to Dr. Deji Adeleke or his son, David Adeleke (Davido).
We understand the perilous situation of the Osun APC but we expect them to at least be reasonable in the quest to manufacture lies. Dr. Deji Adeleke is a renowned businessman with a series of successful ventures and has no reason whatsoever to be hiding behind anyone to engage in a legitimate business. We take the reckless accusation of the Osun APC as a failed strategy to drag the serial investor into their shameless rhetoric and we enjoin the public to totally discountenance this irresponsible blackmail attempt by the feckless opposition in Osun state.
The same thing goes for Mr. David Adeleke, a thriving musician but which the Osun APC is trying to smear with lies and reckless assumptions.
MULTI-BILLION CONTRACT AWARD VIOLATED THE 2015 PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT
FACT: That the Osun APC failed to quote the relevant section of the PPA 2015 easily gives away the lies in its claim. The award of the contracts followed the lettered provisions of the PPA 2015, which we believe the Osun APC is ignorant of or just choose to be mischievous by setting out a wrong narrative in the public. There is no violation of the procurement law of Osun state or any other laws.
ACCUSATION AGAINST THE DEPUTY SPEAKER, RT.HON AKINYODE ABIDEMI OYEWUSI
FACT: It is on record that as at the time when Raregeode Company Limited and Acumen Forte Limited won the bid and were awarded contracts for the various projects, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. AKINYODE ABIDEMI OYEWUSI has ceased to have any role in the two companies. The public are advised to note the March 20, 2023, resignation letter of Rt. Hon. AKINYODE ABIDEMI OYEWUSI, relinquishing control over the two companies in line with the provisions of the law. As long as he has resigned his interest in the company, there is no encumbrance or illegality on the side of the Deputy Speaker.
We only cited a few of the falsehoods and fake news of the APC.
We stand by the statement we issued on Monday about the disruptive activities of Mr Oyetola. On the contrary , Governor Adeleke is a law abiding, peaceful politician who has taken Osun to greater heights.
Mr Governor is a pan-Nigerian leader who is working closely with President Tinubu to resolve challenges facing the nation. Minister Oyetola should support Mr President rather than disrupting and undermining the peace of the state and ongoing good governance delivery in Osun state.