Oyetola’s team looted Abuja Governor’s Lodge– Osun govt alleges

*Adeleke not prepared for governance, says Oyetola’s aide

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State government has again accused the immediate past administration of Gboyega Oyetola of looting the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The government, in a statement signed by the spokesperson of Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed said that unprecedented pillaging of assets in the lodge was uncovered when a physical inspection was conducted on the facility during the weekend.

The statement said: “The lodge was stripped of all valuables acquired with public fund by those officials of the past administration.

“From the main house to the service flats and up to the boys’ quarters, clear indications of valuables removed can be observed. Items such as television sets, chairs, foams, electrical fittings, bed sheets, spoons and cutleries, among other valuables were illegally removed from the lodge.

“Every utility vehicle procured for use in the lodge was also carted away from the building. The lodge was in a terrible state and similar to the way we found the Deputy Governor’s quarters and others at the Government House in Osogbo following the brazen looting of that facility.”

Rasheed said civil servants in the Abuja confirmed the pillaging of state’s asset by Oyetola’s men but said they were powerless in stopping them.

He assured the public of the resolve of the state government to recover every stolen assets of the state calling on whoever is in possession of public properties to return them forthwith. 

But in a swift reaction, media aide to Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan, described the looting claim as a mere diversionary tactic by the governor to cover up his unpreparedness to govern Osun.

Omipidan also said the governor’s constant accusations while the panels he set up were still sitting are indications that nothing concrete would come out of their findings.

Omipidan said: “If a panel on assets recovery has been set up, why not allow the panel do its job and then present their findings? You promised to invite people to appear before the panel. You have not heard from them, yet you are passing judgement already. What’s the essence of the panel since you already know the outcomes?”

He noted that what Osun has witnessed in the last two weeks is a vindication of his earlier position that the PDP was not ready for governance.

“Recall that when he inaugurated his transition committee in July, one of the terms of reference of the committee was to design for the governor what he would do within his first 100 days in office. And I said clearly then that these people were not ready for governance. We all can see now. It is manifesting.

“First, they alleged it was my Principal who looted. I came up with the inventory and the fact that the new governor’s security operatives took charge of the Government House on November 26 and that by 27, which was the inauguration day, they held a party there. But by December 1, they came up with a lie to say the place was looted. Till date, they have not controverted the facts I laid bare.

“Today, they have started another lie. I say for the umpteenth time that my Principal did not loot any state assets. Therefore, this government should stop these blanket statements of accusing Oyetola and his men of what they did not do and face governance,” Omipidan added.