A New Dawn In Osun State As Ademola Adeleke Of PDP Takes Over Mantle Of Leadership
…Oyetola, ex-governor says he left N14bn in Govt Account
Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was sworn in on Sunday at Osogbo as the sixth executive governor of Osun.
He immediately ordered the freezing of the state’s accounts in banks and in other financial institutions.
Chief Judge of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo, administered the oath of office on Adeleke at the Osogbo City Stadium.
Earlier, Justice Ojo administered the oath of allegiance on Adeleke’s deputy, Kola Adewusi.
Adeleke succeeded former Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He directed an immediate return to status quo ante of all appointments, placements and other major decisions taken by Oyetola’s administration from July 17, the day after the governorship election in the state.
Adeleke said a panel would be set up to conduct out an inventory of government assets and recover those in wrong hands.
The governor ordered an immediate reversal to the Constitutionally-recognised name of the state as Osun State from former “State of Osun’’.
The penultimate governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, now Minister of Interior changed the name from Osun State to State of Osun.
“All government insignia, correspondences and signages should henceforth reflect Osun State, rather than `State of Osun’, which is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution.
“Under my watch as the governor of Osun, I will boldly correct all past injustices, corrupt acts or policies by any previous administration, which are against the collective interest of our people,’’ he said.
He assured that all directives he gave on Sunday would backed with appropriate executive orders.
Adeleke assured that as governor, he would meet Osun people’s expectations as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
He said his administration would also demonstrate a high sense of urgency, transparency, justice and innovation to tackle and solve the problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and poor infrastructure in the state.
“I know that as a product of the collective will of you my people, there is a heavy weight of history on my shoulders and I accept the urgency of your expectations.
“The depth of your aspirations and your conviction in me to build a better state will not be misplaced,’’ he said.
Adeleke said that all policies that were not favourable to the growth and effective local government administration would be reviewed in accordance with the law.
He assured labour unions in the state of his administration’s willingness to protect workers’ interests and to promote their welfare at all times, adding that he would be labour-friendly.
The governor frowned at what he described as mass employment by the immediate past administration without financial backing.
He pleaded with workers to give him few weeks to review and sort out all “malicious actions and confusions’’ which the immediate past administration had created since July 17.
The governor also promised to fulfil his campaign promises.
The promises included welfare of workers and pensioners; boosting the state’s economy, home-grown infrastructure policy and people-focused policy on education.
Others were affordable healthcare, security, social welfare and agro-based industrialisation for wealth and job creation.
“I hereby extend a strong hand of fellowship to the other arms of government, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
“As a former lawmaker and a graduate of criminal justice, I appreciate the importance of collaboration between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
“I call on all political parties to unite in the best interest of the state. Election is over. Now is the time for governance. We are open to fresh ideas in line with our manifesto.
“For the purpose of emphasis, I will be a governor for all Osun people regardless of differences in language, faith, political affiliation or any other considerations,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dignitaries at the inauguration included Govs. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Udom Emmanuel, of Akwa Ibom, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa.
Others were PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his wife Titi, PDP National Chairman, Iyiorcha Ayu, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Other still were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, former Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose, Tony Elumelu, and David Adeleke, aka Davido, among others. (NAN)
Meanwhile, ex-going governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, says he left N14 billion in the state’s coffers for his successor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.
In his farewell message, released in Osogbo on Sunday by Ismaila Omipidan, his media aide, Oyetola stated that his administration paid N97 billion of the debt it inherited in 2018, when he assumed office.
Oyetola declared that his administration did not borrow any money from anywhere to finance the state’s economy, stressing that he kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises throughout his tenure.
“We are leaving behind cash balance of more than N14 billion.
“In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January 2023 from our performance in States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme (SFTAS) and from Internally Generated Revenue.
SFTAS is a government programme designed to advance fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability of states of the federation.
“For four years, we did not take any bank loan.
“We benefitted from the N3 billion monthly interventions by the Federal Government to all the states for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailouts taken by the previous administration.
“We paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018,’’ he stated.
The out-going governor added that the state was also expecting 72 million dollars from other programmes and from the NG-CARES programme of the Federal Government, among others.
“These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them,’’ he stressed.
Oyetola stated also that his administration put the state’s economy on a surer footing through its myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects, promptly executed to make life worthwhile for the people.
He stressed that Osun’s economy stabilised during his tenure as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the state.
He affirmed that Osun was more stable economically than he met it in 2018 in spite of all the visible socio-economic challenges that confronted the state.
He stated that he contained the fears and evils of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation which hampered the execution of projects and delivery of services.
“As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank the people of Osun for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years.
“I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), you exercised your right to vote for me.
“As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you.
“We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises,’’ Oyetola stated.
He said he wished to continue to serve the people of Osun, but was constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 governorship election, which, he said he was already challenging in court.
“As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law to take its course.
“We look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future.
“We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it,’’ he stated
Oyetola stated also that he was confident that this period of temporary political eclipse would pass.
“The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which were applauded by local and international organisations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.
“There can be no substitute to people-oriented and development-savvy governance in a democracy.
“The taproots of the unprecedented good governance, inclusive and participatory governance that we introduced, which delivered massive equitable projects and programmes, are too strong to be uprooted.
“As we end our first term, rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership,’’ he stated.
Oyetola stressed that he went through stewardship to let the people know that Osun was sustainable and that he did it through fiscal discipline and personal sacrifices.
“On behalf of our team, I appeal to you all to continue to be law-abiding and to work assiduously to build the Osun of our dreams.
“Together, we shall continue to mend the broken walls of our dear state and restore her glory for our collective good and that of posterity,’’ he stated. (NAN)
