News

Governor Adeleke Did Not Squander Any Trillion Naira, Value for Money Drives State Governance – Spokesperson

● Says Osun Projects Are World-Class, In Line With Best Practices

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke did not squander state resources as projects and programmes are managed with a mantra of value for money and within the ambit of procurement laws and due process.

Speaking in an interview on Westernspring Television at Osogbo, the spokesperson to the State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed debunked the statements credited to an opposition chieftain, Remi Omowaiye, affirming that “projects on which state funds are spent are verifiable and visible to the people of Osun state”

“It is also an illiterate submission to accuse the state governor of spending N92 billion naira on feeding. It is a lie from the pit of hell. Such accusations stem from mischief or financial illiteracy. The governor’s office comprises so many agencies. It is like attributing every kobo spent at the Presidency to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the spokesperson posited.

Mallam Rasheed said the opposition has “clearly launched a war against local content,” stressing that the Adeleke administration will not be bullied into abandoning a development model that empowers Osun people and delivers measurable results.

“Osun APC has launched a war against local content, but we are engaging them with facts, performance, and verifiable outcomes. We are deliberately engineering local content because we support and believe in our own people,” he stated.

While outlining that state resources are being prudently managed and strategically deployed across key sectors, despite deliberate constraints, the spokesperson emphasized that all infrastructure projects under Governor Ademola Adeleke meet required standards and are executed within globally accepted benchmarks.

“If Omowaiye is truly an engineer, how can he berate Osun-based engineers by suggesting that we should not have entrusted them with infrastructure contracts such as bridges and road dualisation? That position is not only unfortunate, it is professionally indefensible and a direct insult to competent Osun professionals who are delivering top-quality work.

“Simply placing Olaiya bridge side by side with Okefia or Lameco bridges. The whole world can see the difference from what Omowaiye foisted on the state and the world class job delivered by the current government. All infrastructure projects of the Osun State Government are top-notch and in line with best practices. The results are visible across the state. From roads to bridges, from health centres to school upgrades, the quality speaks for itself.

“State funds are being expended on roads, bridges, health centres, school upgrades, agriculture, science and technology, cooperative education, empowerment programmes, staff welfare, pensions, water works, among others. The Governor has been judicious in managing state resources.

“Osun has not squandered its allocations; our projects are verifiable and people-oriented. This is despite the frustration of the opposition through the hijacking of Osun local government funds, which they have continued to corner for political ends.”

Highlighting broader reforms, the Spokesperson disclosed that the administration has fulfilled necessary legal and policy requirements in the power sector and that the next stage is the setting up of the regulatory commission.

“We have fulfilled the legal and policy framework for the power sector. The Governor has signed into law the Osun Electricity Market bill. The process for establishing a regulatory commission is ongoing, positioning Osun for energy stability and investment opportunities.”

He added that the state is steadily positioning itself as a hub for innovation and digital growth, noting that through public private partnership, Osun is growing to become a digital economy hub, driven by deliberate investments in science, technology, and youth-focused innovation policies.

“When the governor came on board, the state had no ICT policy. Today Osun has an ICT policy, a tech innovation policy and a domesticated Nigeria StartUp Act. A digital economy advisory council is also in place. The expansion of ICT services beyond the present attainments was slowed down by funding constraints”, he submitted.

Mallam Rasheed also cited landmark achievements of the administration, including the establishment of the University of Ilesa.

“Governor Adeleke transformed the University of Ilesa from mere talk into reality. That alone speaks volumes about a leadership that prioritizes delivery over propaganda.

“We must also state here that the agricultural sector is recording progress. The 31 new tractors have ploughed 4,512 acres of land. 440,000 cocoa seedlings are planted. Farm inputs of various ranges were distributed. Thousands of cashew and palm oil seedlings were distributed and planted”, the spokesperson noted.

Dismissing question on alleged Edenisation, the spokesperson referencing traditional authority validation, noted that “even His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife has acknowledged that development under this administration is spread across every local government area. That is inclusive governance in action.”

On how the local government crisis is affecting delivery of services, the spokesperson said the administration would have delivered more than the present 300 kilometers of road, 200 rehabilitated health centres, over 100 rehabilitated schools, extensive staff welfare among others if not for the local government crisis orchestrated by the opposition.

“Governor Adeleke is delivering under very difficult circumstances. The administration has performed across the sectors and that is why endorsements are coming for the governor from all corners of Osun state ahead of the August 15 election”, Mallam Rasheed noted.

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor.