Osun govt, APC at war over vehicles with ex-gov Oyetola, wife, appointees

 

.N2.9bn worth of vehicles looted– Panel

.They’re approved gifts for meritorious service– Osun APC

 

Blessing Akorowosi, Osogbo

 

Osun State Government has insisted that the immediate past governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, his wife, Kafayat Oyetola and political appointees must return the official vehicles in their possession.

 

This is as the Assets Recovery Panel of the State Government disclosed that the vehicles were summed up to the value of N2.9billion.

 

It noted that there is no law that authorised any elected or appointed officials to go with state vehicles after completing their tenure of office.

 

The Chairman of the Asset Recovery Committee, Dr B.T Salami reported that  the committee has concluded that the affected past officials should return government vehicles in their possession.

 

“This is the first batch of vehicles to be retrieved. We will soon come up with the second batch. All affected officials should return the vehicles in their possession immediately to avoid coercive procedures for recovery of State assets.

 

“In the list of affected officials, Governor Oyetola alone has 11 vehicles ranging from Lexus Jeep, Toyota Prado jeeps and assorted models of costly vehicles. The wife, Mrs Kafayat also has in her possession several brand of governments vehicles which were taken away against provisions of the law.

 

“Other former officials listed include immediate past SPECIAL Adviser on Security, former Chief Details, former Personal Assistant to the Governor, former special assistants to the Governor, former Senior special assistants, former special advisers, former local government caretaker chairmen and members, former board chairmen and members, former Chief of Staff, former Deputy Chief of Staff, former Deputy Governor , former Secretary to the State Government, former commissioners among others.

 

“The former Deputy Governor has more than seven government vehicles in his custody contrary to the provisions of the law.

 

“A serving Senator, Oriolowo is also directed to return to the Osun State Agricultural Development Programme five machines namely motor grader, buldozer, soil compactor machine among others.

 

“All affected ex-officials are to urgently comply with the above request or risk enforcement procedures,” the Committee Chairman said.

 

In reaction, the Osun State All Progressives Congress(APC) described the allegation as untrue saying the current administration is seeking ways to mitigate the effect of the Election Petition Tribunal outcome.

 

It noted that the commissioners and political appointees are statutorily entitled to the vehicles as the former governor formally approved them as gifts for their meritorious service to the state since they are not entitled to either pension or gratuity.

 

According to a statement by the party’s Media Director, Chief Kola Olabisi on Friday, all the panels set up by the government already had their reports even before they were inaugurated.

 

“Talking about this particular panel, have they concluded their sitting?  When was their report submitted?

 

“We asked these questions because only two days ago, the governor was quoted to have said any of the former political appointees that wants his November salary should return the vehicle in his custody. Or is that also part of the recommendations of the panel?

 

“For clarity sake, the former governor and his deputy, by law and convention, are entitled to certain privileges and these are well documented. Apart from those vehicles which their offices permit them to take home, they never took any other item.

 

“As for the commissioners and other appointees who are also statutorily entitled, the governor formally approved their used official vehicles to them as gift for their meritorious service to the state since they are not entitled to either pension or gratuity.

 

“It is also important to point out that this gesture is not limited to political appointees alone, as in the past, career officers had also been allowed to go home with their used vehicles as gift on retirement for serving the state meritoriously.

 

“This fact can be verified as administrations before that of the immediate past practised it. The Osun PDP-led government must, for once, be serious and should stop behaving like comedians,” the statement read.