GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, yesterday, faulted claims by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that his administration spent N18 billion to renovate the Government House, describing their claim as fake news.
He added that the administration did not borrow such for its infrastructure project as claimed by the APC.
The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, described the APC as a party struggling to cope with the reality of its failure in government.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in which it again repeated his lies about the Osun State Government having taken a loan of N10 billion to implement current infrastructure programmes across the state.
“We equally rejected fake news that the state government spent N18 billion on the renovation of the Government House. It is a figment of the imagination of failed men of yesterday. Rather than sponsoring falsehood, we urge the APC to accept it failed while it governed Osun state and it should be brave enough to commend the present government for succeeding where it recorded mass failure.
“We affirm once again that the current government has not taken any loan since inception to pursue any programme or project. The man, who granted the interview on one innocuous YouTube channel, lied and acted as a purveyor of fake news.
“Governor Adeleke had told the public clearly and on several occasions that he is not borrowing to pursue the infra projects. Rather, the Governor explained that his administration’s strategy was to block leakages, expand earnings and save for projects by opening a project account dedicated to the financing of the projects.
“The project in question is a multi-billion naira expenditure spread over time designed to bridge the huge infra deficit the Governor inherited from the Gboyega Oyetola administration. Yesterday, today or tomorrow, no loan is contemplated as the Governor has a sustainable investment and implementation plan within the confines of state resources.”
Anti-graft agencies must check govt books —APC
Meanwhile, the APC has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission, ICPC, to look into the finances of the state to curb ongoing corruption in the state.
The party said: “We want to use this medium to call on the anti-graft agencies, especially the ICPC and EFCC, to immediately move in their men to Osun State to halt the reckless mismanagement of public funds which is now endemic under the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke.”
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We’re willing to receive them — PDP
However, the PDP Chairman in the state, Sunday Bisi said the administration is willing to receive the anti-graft agencies should the APC properly invite them to come and probe our books.
Bisi said: “Unlike the APC government, which looted the State Treasury and denied civil servants their rights, we are willing to see the anti-graft agencies and our books are well open to anyone.”
