We Are Not A Thieving Government — Osun Government

The Osun State Government has dismissed as false, the insinuation by a group that it planned to divert the SURE-P refund recently released to local governments. 

The state government also noted that some officials of the past administration were bitter, adding that their plot to squander the fund was exposed and stopped by the team of Ademola Adeleke when he was the Governor-elect and the Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement signed by Olawale Rasheed, the Spokesperson to the state governor, the government disclosed that the insinuation was a calculated attempt by agents of the Adegboyega Oyetola administration to pollute the minds of the people of the state.

It added that the lies were fabricated after the agents of the oast administration were stopped from pilfering the fund as it did with many other accruals to the state.

The statement recalled that it took the swift action of Governor Ademola Adeleke's team to raise alert of a plot to swindle Osun people of the said fund in the latter days of outgone administration through phoney and non-existing projects. 

"The Governor's team issued several alerts which stopped the previous administration from sharing the fund.

"Our interest at that time, which has not changed, was that the fund should be used for the purpose it was meant for. We find it rather amusing that the frustrated men of yesterday caught openly in the act of treasury pillaging, think everyone is like them.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the present administration is a regime of due process, transparency, and accountability. 

"This government is averse to looting of government properties, illegal gifting of government cars to cronies, and ransacking of Osun Governor's lodge in Abuja as different from globally available evidence of the looting of Governor's and Deputy Governor's lodges at Osogbo. 

"This government is not a Trumpist copycat that coveted public assets and still think nothing illegal and immoral has happened.

"We find it really shameful that a shameless administration with a series of documented tampering with government's assets and treasury will attempt to mount a false moral high ground at a time the state is still reeling under the mess it created. 

"The public, the best judge of public service, is in the custody of over 20 public alerts and statements from the Governor's team while in the opposition which exposed corruption, thwarted illegal fund movement, and warned against unlawful recruitment.

"The court of public opinion has already released its verdict and the jury is out - the Oyetola administration engaged in widespread corrupt practices in violation of the procurement process, bureaucracy management, local government administration, and public appointments. 

"No amount of fake news can reverse that verdict of history.

"We assure the public that every fund under its management, and not just the SURE-P fund is safe. 

"Therefore, the general public should discountenance the fake news in circulation as the Adeleke administration has not touched a kobo from it, nor plan to use it outside the purpose it was meant for."

The State government revealed that at the appropriate time, it will disclose and outline projects that the fund will be used for.