Oyetola, Adeleke aides trade words over diverted vehicles

Spokesperson for the immediate past Osun State Governor, Ismail Omipidan, and the spokesperson for the new government in the state, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday traded accusations over the approval given by the former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, releasing vehicles to officers that served in his administration.

Omipidan was reacting to the directive by the Asset Recovery Committee of the current administration, asking Oyetola and other officials that served in his administration to return vehicles that they allegedly diverted after leaving office.

Speaking further in the statement obtained in Osogbo, Omipidan said Oyetola had released the vehicles to the said officials who served in his administration in accordance with the law and convention.

Contrary to the claim by government, Omipidan said Oyetola was not in possession of 11 vehicles, insisting that the used vehicles he left with were not only properly documented, but were done in line with the extant law and best practices.

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He said the release on the alleged carting away of government vehicles were full of lies and misinformation, put together to malign the person and character of his principal, wondering how Adeleke administration came about the value of N2.9bn as total worth of the used vehicles.

Omipidan said, “For instance, the vehicles listed against Amotekun were the same vehicles being used in the current administration. Yet, they said they are looking for the same vehicles. Three of the vehicles they claimed are with the former deputy governor are already being used by the current deputy governor.

“The used vehicles that were approved for release to all the public officials who were statutorily entitled were done in accordance with the law, convention and practice as was done by past administrations. The gesture is usually done to appreciate these public officials for serving the State meritoriously since they are not entitled to pension and gratuity.

“Therefore, releasing the vehicles is a discretionary power within the governor’s executive power.The current deputy governor, the SSG, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye and the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Kasim Akinleye were all beneficiaries of similar gesture in the past as they left with their used vehicles when they served as chairmen of their various councils under the PDP administration.

“This gesture is enjoyed by both the judicial and the legislative arms of government as well.

“Having said all that, I will implore the governor to take his time to study the handover notes and acquaint himself with past records of happenings of administrations before that of Oyetola, so as to be guided appropriately.”

But the spokesperson for the Adeleke administration, Rasheed, said there was no law that empowers the governor or his appointees to go away with government vehicles and challenged Oyetola’s team to name and give date of enactment of the law, if it truly existed.

He warned that if the vehicles allegedly diverted were not returned in another 48 hours, government would apply law relating to criminal theft of public properties.

Rasheed said, “What the law provides is possibility of auctioning of public properties if need arises for such, submitting that such an exercise must past through due process with application of auctioning regulations and procedures.

“In this case, there was no auctioning of those vehicles. No tender payment, bidding and opening exercises. Without any legal foundation, vehicles cumulatively worth about N3.5 billion were shared out. Then, the affected officials admitted and are still laughably justifying illegality bordering on criminal infraction.

“Citing of non-existing law is embarrassing to those affected and the State as a whole. How can learned people be relying on such an illegal foundation instead of immediately returning government vehicles to the pool without further delay?

“Past officials have admitted bolting away with government vehicles. We have detailed records of all missing vehicles and which official is holding them. The Asset Recovery Committee will launch out on re-possession and retrieval exercise in line with stipulations of the law.”