Osun APC, Adeleke in war of words over Ilesa road project commissioning
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has declared that the administration of Ademola Adeleke has been using deceit to run the affairs of the state.
The Osun APC also cautioned Governor Adeleke against currying unmerited favours from the unsuspecting residents of the state.
In a statement signed by the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, and obtained by newsm on Thursday, the party accused the state governor of inviting his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, to commission a road in Ilesa.
The party revealed that the road in question, which was fully funded by an individual, Rasheed Sarumi, an Ijesa man, was commissioned under the guise that it was a product of Adeleke’s recent Tax Credit Initiative.
According to Lawal, “The recent shenanigans in Ilesa, where it adopted to play a fast game on the people of Osun State over projects fully funded by a private individual, Mr Rasheed Sarumi of Ilesa, is sour reminder to how low governance has sunk under the kick-and-start governor.
“It is disheartening that Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson would lie that some lofty projects that Governor Godwin Obaseki came all the way from Benin to commission was a product of Governor Adeleke’s recent Tax Credit initiative. This is an irresponsible falsehood that a decent government should not have contemplated elevating.
“But unfortunately, in the desperate drive of Governor Adeleke to shore up the negative public perception of his person and government, no lie is too demeaning, crass and irresponsible for them to glamorise.
“The tax credit initiative as related to the Ilesa projects was a brain-child of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. It was conceptualised and implemented during his administration.
“In actual fact, the projects were phased into two parts, with the first phase already completed and second phase at a 60 per cent completion stage, as at the time the former governor exited government on November 26th, 2022.”
While agreeing that government is a continuum, Lawal revealed that pictorial evidences of former Governor Oyetola’s Works Commissioner on the site, Engr Remi Omowaiye, abound to confirm undisputedly that Governor Adeleke told a barefaced lie on the origin of the road contract.
Responding, Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated that the state government has constructed over 55 kilometers of roads and is encouraging private individuals to join in the drive to bridge the state’s infrastructure deficit.
Rasheed said Governor Adeleke was invited to commission the road by the businessman and that at no point was any claim made that the state government constructed the road.
“Governor Adeleke, while commissioning the road, commended Mr Sarumi for his community service and urged other endowed citizens and residents of the state to emulate the contribution of Sarumi.
“The governor at the commissioning stressed further that Sarumi is a model other business leaders in the state should emulate, a position echoed by the Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
“In what way is it a crime for the state governor to honour a distinguished Osun citizen who is giving back to the society? Governor Adeleke has constructed over 55 kilometers of roads, with another 45 kilometers in the pipelines. The administration has not and will not claim projects that do not belong to the administration.
“Is the APC saying the governor should not have encouraged the Sarumis and others to support community development by personally identifying with them? The current government is bridging the infrastructure deficit and it won’t be distracted by a party that failed woefully while in office.”
