- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the alleged misappropriation of a $20 million World Bank health intervention fund by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
NPO reported that the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, had in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accused his predecessor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy of money laundering, financial misconduct, and violations of the Public Procurement Act in handling the health sector grant.
Reacting in a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Osun APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, dismissed the allegations.
Olabisi described the petition as a diversionary tactic, claiming Adeleke was using it to distract from his struggles with local government administration in the state.
Slamming Adeleke for making smear campaign against the former governor, Olabisi held that the fund was judiciously used in improving the state’s health sector.
He also denied claims that Oyetola awarded contracts to members of his cabinet, stressing that the contacts awarded were in accordance to the procurement law.
“Not only was the fund used to improve health in the state, the contract awards followed the relevant procurement laws of the state.
“We make bold to state that no commissioner, adviser or appointee of ex-Governor Oyetola was awarded contracts while serving in government.
“We challenge the state government, who is now on a witch-hunting mission, to publish names of contractors and date of contract awards to substantiate their evil narrative.
“Unlike Oyetola who uploaded 110 contract and procurement details on the government portal in three years, the current government has only published seven contract details in two years, raising eyebrows about his commitment to accountability and transparency.
“We want to state unequivocally that Governor Oyetola followed all legal and procedural requirements in governance. The claim that he “flouted procurement rules” is misleading, as contracts were awarded in line with the Osun State Public Procurement Law.” He said.
While labelling Adeleke’s administration as jesters, Olabisi concluded that the reinstated local government chairmen and councillors in the state have come to stay.
“If the current jesters think sponsoring mudslinging would discourage APC from giving life to the judgement of the Court of Appeal reinstating its chairmen and councilors, then the government should bury the thought. The Chairmen and Councillors have come to stay and they are resolute on giving a dividend of democracy to the people of Osun.” He added.