There is fresh rumpus in Osun State as the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of diverting the sum of N941,850, 000.00 local government SURE-P fund meant for the provision of social infrastructure for the purchase of Christmas rice for members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Adeleke, through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday, approved the composition of a committee for a non-partisan distribution of rice for the people of the state to celebrate the yuletide and directed that beneficiaries must cover all sectors of the state.
Reacting in a statement issued by the Osun APC Acting Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, the party said it has discovered that Adeleke played a fast one on the people of the state by allegedly “spending a huge sum of N941,850, 000.00 to buy rice for the members and leaders of the PDP in the state.”
Lawal said it was disturbing, worrisome and disheartening that a state governor that has spent barely three weeks in the office could deep his hand into the kitty of the government without recourse to the state House of Assembly, adding that the money involved is slated for capital projects across the nooks and crannies of Osun.
“The APC surprisingly stumbled on a letter where Adeleke, through the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, directed the diversion of the money meant for the generality of the people of the state.
“In the letter issued and signed by Mr. Femi Ogundun, Coordinating Director, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dated December 16, 2022, Governor Adeleke approved the accessment of N13, 650, 000 (Thirteen million only) for each of the 69 local government councils including the local council development areas and area offices to purchase Christmas and New Year gifts for political loyalists.
“Adeleke also directed that N13,440,000.00 being the cost of the rice and transportation cost of N210,000 should be paid by each of the local government council areas into one company, Hill Crest Agro-Allied Industries Limited with account number 1014686758.
“The governor’s approval letter through the Coordinating Director to each of the Heads of Local Government Administration in the state reads: “I wish to convey the approval of His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke to your local government to access the sum of N13,650,000.00k only from your Statutory Allocation Account in Wema Bank PlC, Ede for the purpose of procuring bags of rice as Christmas and New Year gifts to the citizens in the local government,” Lawal said.
Lawal further claimed that Governor Adeleke used the said fund without approval from the state House of Assembly, saying, “it is obvious that the Osun State people have boarded a metaphorical one-chance vehicle with Governor Adeleke in the driver’s seat of governance in the state.
“When did the confused Governor Adeleke defreeze the government accounts in the state as it was contained in one of his obnoxious Executive Orders that he reeled out on the day of his inauguration? It’s a pity that as usual, Adeleke has missed it again as he succeeded in exposing himself as a total stranger to governance.
“What right has the governor to use the local government SURE-P fund meant for the provision of capital projects at the grassroots to buy Christmas rice for the members of his party? Why was he denying before now that he would never spend the government’s money to advance the cause of his political party and its members?
“Why has Adeleke been running the affairs of the state as if it is an enterprise of his family in Ede? Who owns the Hill Crest Agro-Allied Industries Limited, Zenith Bank Account number 1014686758 into which Adeleke directed the money for the rice to be paid.
“Adeleke should also be on hand to explain to the members of his party in particular and the people of Osun in general why he contracted out the rice supply to a Kwara State-based company owned by one Sarah Alade that has a robust relationship with the former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the governor’s elder sister, Mrs Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, when there are copious rice dealers in Osun State?
“Why does Adeleke think that he has the unilateral limitless power and authority to frivolously dip his hands into the local government covers in order to satisfy the members of his party?
“The people of the state need to be extra-vigilant with this strange and awkward approach to governance so that the gains of yesterday would not be avoidably eroded,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Adeleke’s spokesperson denied the allegations, saying, “the government also wishes to affirm to Osun People that the Sure-P fund, which Governor Adeleke stopped former government from looting, remains intact and safe in the accounts of the local governments
“The distribution committee according to a public announcement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye is composed of the following membership per ward: A member of the league of Imams; A member of Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN); A member of the Traditional Religion ; A member of People’s Democratic Party( PDP) ; A member from All Progressives Congress (APC); A Pensioner/Retiree; A Woman.
“The announcement noted that 40 bags of rice are to be distributed per ward, explaining the transparency in the entire process such that the expended fund achieves the goal of Osun money for Osun development.
“While the 40 bags per wards were purchased at N32,000 per bag, the rice for state distribution were purchased from ‘Egbe Olowo of Osun state at N36,000 per bag, a price still below similar transaction by the previous government.
“It would be recalled that the previous administration purchased rice distributed last year at forty thousand naira per bag, a narration the new government has changed by direct purchase and transparent distribution process.
“To affirm its commitment to transparency, Governor Adeleke ordered that the composition of committee for the distribution of the rice and targeted beneficiaries must be from all sectors in Osun state.
“His Excellency affirms that this administration is not a thieving government like that of his predecessor and he remains committed to cushioning the effect of the hard time on all sections of Osun society.
“It is therefore shameless lie and false reports to claim only PDP members are benefiting or that the Sure-P fund was diverted. It is also pure falsehood to claim Heads of Local Government Administration are denied their entitlements. All issues pertaining to entitlements of public servants are been attended to by the relevant offices.
“Osun people can bear witness that the family of His Excellency has consistently distributed food items to Osun people for the past several decades. The philanthropic family with one of its own as the State Governor is determined to elevate the tradition of giving as a state policy.
“We therefore assure Osun people that the Adeleke administration is not a thieving government and will not in anyway follow the path of the past. All actions so far taken and that will be taken are in line with due process, state regulations and extant laws,” he said.
