Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Francis Ezediuno
Published on 2024-03-20 04:40:45
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called out Governor Ademola Adeleke for allegedly awarding multibillion naira infrastructural projects to his family members, including his brother Dr. Deji Adeleke, his son David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido), and Deputy Speaker Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi. The opposition party accused the governor of treating the state as a private enterprise for the Adeleke dynasty.
During a press conference in Osogbo, the APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, criticized Adeleke for violating the 2015 Public Procurement Law of the state by awarding contracts worth N50 billion to entities lacking experience in road construction. Lawal alleged that the Adeleke family, along with Hon. Oyewusi, were using inactive companies to secure contracts and siphoning state funds.
The APC pointed out that Raregeode Company Limited and Acumen Forte Limited, both founded by the Deputy Speaker, were awarded road construction contracts totaling N9 billion despite lacking a track record in road construction. This conflict of interest violated the state’s procurement laws, according to the APC. They called for Oyewusi’s resignation from the State House of Assembly and urged anti-graft agencies to investigate the matter.
The APC also raised concerns about the companies involved in the contracts, questioning their expertise and the exorbitant costs of the projects. They highlighted the lack of transparency in the awarding of contracts to companies with no prior experience in road construction, such as Ascorj Integrated Nigeria Ltd, Great Enyork Technology Limited, and Enginec Engineering Limited.
Lawal called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intervene and prevent further mismanagement of public funds under Governor Adeleke’s administration. The Deputy Speaker, Oyewusi, defended himself by stating that he had severed ties with the companies and denied any wrongdoing.
In response, the Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refuted the allegations made by the APC, describing them as lies and fake news. The PDP claimed that the state government was following procurement laws and utilizing resources for developmental projects. They defended Governor Adeleke as a leader committed to due process, the rule of law, and accountability.
The political drama in Osun State highlights the ongoing power struggle and allegations of corruption within the state government. As the APC and PDP clash over the handling of public contracts and resources, the people of Osun are left to question the integrity and transparency of their elected officials. Only time will tell how this controversy unfolds and whether it leads to any meaningful reforms in the state’s governance.
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