Osun PDP, APC trade blame over N407.32bn debt

The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State and the opposition All Progressives Congress on Sunday continued their war of words over the N407.32 billion state debt portfolio.

Earlier, the PDP in a statement by its acting chairman, Dr Adekunle Akindele, berated ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola for alleged deceitful conduct regarding his handling of the state’s finances.

The PDP however commended the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for his transparency and accountability in the management of the state affairs.

The party also said Osun debt portfolio had been a subject of secrecy for long with attendant negative consequences on the state finance, investors’ perception and general well-being of the people, adding that Oyetola allegedly remained the originator of financial misgovernance rot in the state.

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“From eight years as the Chief of Staff, to a calamitous one term rule, Mr Oyetola bastardised the state economy, deepened the state’s debt overhang, hid financial mess under bogus data, supervised the plundering of state assets, presided over huge revenue robbery regime and coordinated extensive nest of solid mineral bandits. He bears sole responsibility for the debt crisis.

“Secondly, unfolding development confirmed the APC as the worst thing to ever happened to Osun State. For a state to be so deeply indebted and the facts are not known to the citizens, is a manifestation of anti-people, inhumane leadership typified by Mr Oyetola. Worst still, the state is still grossly underdeveloped despite the over N400 billion debt,” the PDP said.

But reacting to the PDP in a statement signed by its acting chairman, Mr. Taju Lawal, the APC urged Adeleke to desist from justifying his incompetence to govern the state by giving unfounded and diversionary allegations against Oyetola.

The APC, while also saying that the debt portfolio of N407.32 billion was imaginary, noted that Adeleke had intended to use the figure as cover-up for his incompetence and non-preparedness to give quality governance to Osun people.

The party insisted that Adeleke’s claim of inherited debt profile was meant to deceive people, stressing that the move was a continuation of the governor’s unjustifiable negative political game of vindictiveness and oppression against his predecessor.

The statement further read in part, “The grandstanding of Governor Adeleke is a ploy to feign an alibi for the state government workers that it would not be possible for him to offset their salary/pension arrears as a result of the alleged inherited debt, in line with his campaign promises to pay same within six months of the life of his administration.

“Is it not funny that instead of Adeleke to be on pupillage under the immediate-past Governor Oyetola on his magic wand for not failing to pay salaries and pensions as of when due throughout his tenure, the PDP governor abandoned governance for politics to the detriment of his administration.”