Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo

Osun State Government has reiterated its determination to keep its citizens and residents safe irrespective of mischief makers’ insinuations to the contrary.
Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, in a statement to debunk claims that the administration of Gboyega Oyetola was out to witch-hunt its predecessor with the decision to carry out integrity tests on the state-owned model schools, said safety of students, teachers and all workers in the affected schools wais the reason for the exercise.
Oyebamiji said the Governor would continue to do what was right for his people unlike the desperate elements trying to score cheap political points at the expense of human lives.
According to Oyebamiji, “It is not in contention that the model schools were built by the last administration. However, the responsibility of keeping the students, teachers and all workers using the facilities rest on the shoulders of the present government.
Oyebamiji explained that the origin of the structural challenges in a few of the model schools predated the Oyetola administration.
“Based on this complaint, the new administration in early 2019 requested one of the facility managers, Engr (Mrs) C. B Olajide, who was the one in charge of maintenance of the mega schools and also a Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the physical conditions of the 10 functional Mega schools and come up with repair and rehabilitation needs.
On Ayedaade Grammar School, the former SSA Aregbesola said: “There are lateral cracks on ground floor walls, indicative of settling foundation .The location is swampy and requires special foundation (raft) and framed structure (monolithic) to discourage cracks as a result of consolidation when it occurs.”
“The Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi-led committee in its report emphasized the need for urgent rehabilitation of some of the schools and safety-reassuring integrity tests for any of the challenged mega school buildings.
He noted that a private and reputable independent Geo-technics laboratory outside the state was later engaged by the committee of professional bodies to assist them in the test and the result of the Non-Destructive Tests showed that some structural facilities of some of the buildings had issues which necessitated another rounds of structural test which result was being awaited.