.... Bemoans huge debt burdens left behind by Oyetola’s administration
The special adviser to Osun state governor on Tax matters, Hon. Kamorudeen Toyese Ajisafe Esq has bemoaned the state of indebtedness that Governor Ademola Adeleke inherited from previous administrations.
In an exclusive interview with WesternLifeNewsNG in Osogbo, the state capital, Ajisafe recalled how the current administration, since its inception, has been battling with the debt burdens incurred and left behind, especially by immediate past government.
“It started a long time ago when they took over government from the Peoples Democratic Party in 2010. At the time, we left a lot of funds in the state’s coffers, even at the local government level. Then, I was a local government chairman and left close to N100 million in my local government account. Sadly, not quite a year after that, they started borrowing money, with nothing to show for it, to the extent that they owed workers’ salaries, and couldn’t pay pensioners’ gratuities. The last administration also resorted to paying half salaries to workers. They left backlog of payments due for various contractors, that executed projects for the state. Presently, there are some loans, we have not started the repayment because of the moratorium on it,” he said.
Speaking on the one year in office of Governor Adeleke, the special adviser said, the journey so far is not all that smooth, yet the administration is weathering the storm and effectively tackling the challenges headlong.
Though, according to him, “the current situation has been envisaged before the governor took over the mantle of power, yet Governor Adeleke is not deterred to restore good governance to the good people of Osun.”
He said the situation is so bad presently, giving a situation where you are collecting about N5 billion in a month and substantial amount is being deducted from source, whereas you have to pay workers’ salaries, pensioners’ gratuities, fix roads, and build infrastructure across the state. So what kind of magic can you do? Despite all these challenges, in the last one year, we have laid down solid foundation to ushering in a sound and prosperous economy for the state. So our coming is just to rescue the state and that we have been doing religiously and judiciously.
Responding to opposition’s recent remarks, accusing Governor Adeleke of poor performance and have nothing to show for his one year in office, Ajisafe said, “only foreigners can say that. But those people that are now accessing good healthcare, enjoying provision of water, enjoying good roads, will not say that.”
According to him, Governor’s Adeleke performance in the last one year can be felt in many sectors such as infrastructure, health, education and human capacity development.
“Go up from here (Osogbo) to Ikirun and see the dualization of the road with street light; this government has also started work on Osogbo/Ikirun/Kwara boundary road abandoned by the past administration. The road which stretched over 20km is now wearing a new look and easing movement of motorists.
Since we came on board, we have been using the same contractors that the immediate government engaged, because we are not going to give the contractor money from the right and take it back with our left. People are surprised. We don’t have to be demanding bribes, or kick back from contractors. We are using the same contractors inherited from past government, despite knowing that those contractors are friends of the former governor. No renegotiation. Our only concern is for the contractors to deliver a good job. The State House of Assembly is however doing her oversight functions to making sure that job is done correctly.
“Apart from massive construction of roads across Osun State. The administration is embarking on infrastructural developments in many communities in the state.
We are clearing the arrears of half salaries and pensions owed by the past administration. Not only that, we have also enrolled our pensioners into Osun Health Insurance Scheme, to enable them have access to free medical.
“On the current level of internally generated revenue, the governor’s aide declared improvement, saying this was achieved through the newly devised method the Adeleke’s administration introduced, which has yielded good results.”
Speaking on the initial challenge the government faced in improving the state revenue, he said, “the last administration left with the data so we started from zero data. If you are leaving government, you suppose not to go with the data but they left with the data.”
Ajisafe mocked the opposition for underrating Governor Adeleke, saying the governor has dazzle them with his incredible performance.
“The problem they have, I will tell you for free, is that this so-called opposition, especially the APC, underestimated the present governor of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke and the guy loves that, he loves to be underestimated so that he can spring suprises.They are so daft that they underestimate the man. Let them continue underestimating us, we have the people on our side.”
Revealing his plan for the PDP both at the zonal and national levels, the national vice chairman designate for Southwest Zone of the party, said his main preoccupation is to unite the party and make it more formidable in the Southwest.
“I’m coming to unite the party by bringing everyone on board, so that we can have at least four or five governors in the next election. Presently, out of six, we have two already, and by the grace of God, another one is coming, through the supreme court’s anticipated favourable judgement. It was 3-0 at the tribunal, 2:1 at the Court of appeal. I am confident that the apex court will examine the minority judgement at the appelate court in respect of Ogun state governorship matter and do justice to our case.
