…berates Gov for pardoning Police officer standing trial, 52 convicts

By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Governor Ademola Adeleke to disclose the true financial records of the state.

The party decried the plight of the masses, alleging that their resources were siphoned and mismanaged for personal gain.

The APC also condemned the governor’s recent use of the prerogative of mercy to pardon a police officer, Amien George, who is still standing trial, along with 52 other convicts.

The party described the action as “self-serving and ulterior,” accusing the government of criminalising the state and legitimising lawlessness.

Furthermore, the party issued a stern warning to the governor over an alleged N50 billion loan being processed by his administration.

Speaking at an end-of-year press conference held at Ilerioluwa House, Osogbo, APC’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, accused the state government of secretly signing and obtaining foreign loans totalling $51 million (approximately ₦81.6 billion), using an exchange rate of ₦1,600 per dollar.

Olabisi asserted that the current administration is plunging the state into deep financial turmoil and urged Osun residents to hold Governor Adeleke accountable for what he described as “palpable financial recklessness.”

He further alleged that contrary to claims that the Adeleke administration had not obtained any loans, the 2023 audited financial statement revealed otherwise.

“Pages 60 and 61 of the document show that the domestic debt profile of the state rose to ₦55.3 billion in 2023, up from ₦46.8 billion in 2022.”

Olabisi also disclosed information purportedly obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance, indicating that Osun State had accessed $20 million under the NG-CARES programme (equivalent to ₦32 billion).

He said: “The first phase of NG-CARES ended in June 2024. However, the governor has been misled into pursuing the second phase, known as NG-CARES Additional Financing.

This entails an additional $15 million (₦24 billion), bringing the total to $35 million (₦56 billion). The disbursement is expected imminently.”

Olabisi accused the government of using misleading narratives about the state’s financial status and called on residents to demand transparency.

“The people of Osun, especially the intelligentsia, must task the government to disclose the true financial situation of the state.

The people should not be kept in the dark while being plunged into eternal debt,” he stated.

On the state of education, the former Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Alhaji Jamiu Olawumi, criticised the government for poorly managing the sector.

“In 2024, we exposed the government’s lip service to education. Many institutions now rely on exorbitant school fees to sustain operations.

For example, the newly established university in Ilesa received just ₦60 million in subventions between January and September 2024, leaving students’ fees to cover the rest.

Law students are charged ₦1.5 million per session, and nursing students ₦1.2 million. How can civil servants afford such fees, given their poor remuneration?”

He further noted the adverse impact of teacher shortages: “Two years after sacking 1,500 teachers hired by its predecessor, the administration has yet to employ replacements.

For instance, Atakumosa East Local Government has only one Physics teacher. Similar situations exist in Ejigbo, Iwo, Osogbo, and other areas.”

In response to questions, APC chieftains Akin Adeyi, Kehinde Ayantunji, and Adebayo Adedeji accused the governor of running the state like a personal business venture.

The party also criticised the recent amnesty granted to 53 prisoners, describing it as suspicious.

They alleged that the move was intended to reintroduce criminals into society, warning that many might return to their previous unlawful activities.