Reports of Gov Adeleke collecting security votes false – Osun Govt

The Osun State Government has dismissed as false reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke is receiving security votes.

The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, refuted the allegations in a statement made available to Newspot on Sunday in Osogbo.

Alimi emphasised that Adeleke has not collected any security votes in line with the commitment he made upon assuming office.

Newspot recalls that Adeleke, who took office on November 27, 2022, had pledged that his administration would not accept security votes.

Alimi in the statement accused the opposition political parties of spreading falsehoods due to their inability to criticise the governor’s impressive performance.

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The commissioner further suggested that the misinformation likely originated from the opposition party, which he accused of either misunderstanding or intentionally misrepresenting state expenditures meant to support security agencies, including the Police and the Department of State Services, DSS.

“The state government statutorily supports security agencies when they conduct security operations on a regular basis such as quelling communal violence, joint security operations in troubled spots as well as deployment during mass demonstrations.

“Such expenditures are formally accounted for in line with the due approval process. The state support in such situations are referred to as expenditure for security services as different from the concept of security vote which does not pass through formal due approval process.

“The opposition needs to be educated that there are differences between security votes and security services. Security votes are widely known as slush funds expended at the discretion of the Chief Executive without passing through formal accountability and due processes.

“In Osun State, Governor Adeleke is not, has not and will not take such security votes. Mr Governor is however committed to supporting the security agencies with their logistics needs under security services expenditure which are fully applied for and processed through the office of Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters.”

He said revealed that the governor only approves funds to address security issues when occasion demands for such.

“There are always record to justify such expenditure as opposed to being latched on as a free money to be expended at will by any sitting Governor as was the tradition with the past administration.”

While reiterating that the administration is not averse to constructive criticism, Alimi urged that caution should not be thrown to the wind in going about it.