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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State yesterday accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of financial recklessness in the guise of embarking on projects it described as “mere avenues to siphon the meagre resources of the state rather than genuine concern for its development.”
But, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has challenged the PDP to go to court to prove its latest allegations.
The PDP, in a statement made available to NAIJAHOTTESTGIST by its Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, insisted that the governor is exploiting various means, especially contract awards, to drain the resources of the state.
His words: “Our findings have revealed a lot about how Osun resources are being disbursed by Ogbeni Aregbesola, allegedly in his attempt to offset the debt incurred in the legal tussle that brought him to power and also to assist Ondo State ACN in the forthcoming election.
“We have it on good authority that the sum of N6bn has been released for planting of flowers from Asejire border town of Osun State to Osogbo, the state capital and the question we want to ask our governor is: Of what benefit is planting of flowers on a Federal Government road to the people of Osun?
“When Ogbeni Aregbesola claimed to have spent N651 million on bangers alone in December, we asked questions but did not get any response. This perhaps is the reason why he is getting away with lots of nonbenefitting expenditure in the state.
“Between December and today, Ogbeni Aregbesola has spent N4.7bn on decoration during the last Christmas as well as claims of feeding Muslims in the ongoing Ramadan period while another N2bn was said to have been spent in renovating the Governor’s Office, which was not part of the N1.5bn said to have been spent on reconstruction of the roundabout in front of the Government Secretariat, Abere in Osogbo.”
The PDP also said Governor Aregbesola is ripping off the state of N78 million monthly through the youth empowerment programme. The party stated that: “Contrary to Ogbeni Aregbesola’s claim that he employed 20,000 youths for the ‘O-YES’ scheme, therefore paying monthly salary of N200 million, our findings have revealed that only 12, 200 youths are in the scheme and that only N122 million is being paid to the beneficiary of the scheme.
“The incontrovertible analysis from this is that the sum of N78 million is being siphoned monthly on the OYES scheme alone, yet Mr. Aregbesola is creating the impression that he is prudent with resources of Osun State.”
The ACN, in its reaction by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, denied all the allegations, urging the PDP to tow the path of honour by going to court.
“If the Osun PDP does not proceed to court to demonstrate its credibility by proving these allegations within the next 21 days, then the PDP will stand accused of being unworthy of participating in civilised political engagements,” he said.
Oyatomi said all programmes of the ACN-led government in the areas of regular and prompt payment of salaries, education, environment, road and other infrastructure, health, youths employment, welfare for elders, massive food production, pension arrears payment, provision of security to our people have been funded through creative means of the state government.
“For those who may be attracted by PDP’s misinformation on the figure of the OYES members, the best way to ascertain the accurate figure of the amount being paid to them through the Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) which is the means the OYES Volunteers are paid their monthly allowances is to check the bank for the accounts”
