LAGOS—IMMEDIATE past governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande has alleged that the Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola is trying to witch-hunt him as a result of alleged N126m fraud.
In a letter addressed to the Osun state governor, Chief Akande stated that “very recently, the Federal Government published the lists of failed contracts without asking any head of government (past or present) to refund lost funds resulting from such abandoned contracts. To that extent, it is curiously suspicious that, in your own judgement, you would tie any failings of the contractors and consultants of the ‘Bola Ige House’ round my neck even as it is obvious to you that the project was never abandoned. It was substantially completed at the time we left office”.
Chief Akande, however, stated that rather than concentrating on improving the standard of living of the people, Governor Oyinlola was creating a ‘problem of esteem and dignity’ for his (Oyinlola) office. He said: “I will like to state, once again, that rather than achieve your motive in this perfidious enterprise, you are creating a problem of esteem and dignity for the office of Governor, even for yourself and for the future, because every claim made against me by you are based on your personal assumption. For instance, your illustration in the hypothesis using the example of ‘yam and oil’, in the concluding part of your address, is absolutely hollow and bankrupt although you claim to be a lawyer.”
Chief Akande while faulting Prince Oyinlola‘s claim as an Awoist pointed out that “your reference to me as a ‘failed Awoist’ makes it necessary for me to educate you and those who constantly deride the Yoruba leaders of Awolowo‘s school of thought. The simple lesson for you, at this point, is that “Awoism” is a body of philosophy which places the welfare of citizens above the comfort of those in government at reasonably reduced cost. That is exactly what I stood for as governor from May 1999 to May 2003. The verdict of the people is clear on this.”
In addition, he said “may I say, with deep sense of responsibility, that it is an insult to the sensibility of Obasanjo‘s policy and the authority of the National Assembly, who created the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), for you to publicly insist that a matter of this nature will be handled by one of your Magistrates, an employee of your government and a public servant who can be compelled to do your bidding.”
In furtherance to this, Chief Akande maintained that there were untrue facts in presentations which Governor Oyinlola issued to the media. His words: “While ignoring the irrelevances in your address, some of them bothering on pettiness, it will suffice, for now, to cite only a few of your claims to prove the totality of the falsehoods contained in the presentation to your ‘World Press’.
First, your excellency claimed that you never received my letter which, incidentally, was sent by courier. Perhaps, you have forgotten that courier companies maintain a record of delivery and receipts. May I let you know that the receipt of letter was signed for by an officer in your office. Secondly, you stated that I approved “the augmentation of N230 million for additional sub-contractors on May 19, 2003" but you failed to reveal to the public that it was you who revalidated whatever I approved and authorized payment even when, according to you, the accounts remained muddled. Also, you claimed, falsely again, that certain purchases were made which included some items whose values were inflated. Do I need to tell you as the governor that a governor has no business purchasing any items of whatever description? While it may be the style of some governors to do so, purchase of individual items of furniture, fixtures and fittings was not my indulgence.”
It would be recalled that Chief Akande was recently declared wanted by the Osun state Police Command over the alleged fraud of N126m.
