The governor, who spoke during a meeting with leaders of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), disclosed that the state needs N360 million to service its debts every month and a loan of N1 billion for payment of workers’ salary and other statutory obligations.
But in a swift reaction, former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, dismissed Governor Aregbesola’s claim. According to him, “government is a continuum. Osun is not and cannot be bankrupt. When you take over a government, you take over both assets and liabilities.
Oyinlola did not leave just liabilities, he left about N7 billion in government coffers from the loan approved by the House of Assembly. He did not leave any salary arrears unlike when he came in 2003 and inherited a lot of debts including three months unpaid salaries and N2.5 billion unpaid gratuities of workers retrenched by his predecessor. Oyinlola paid all. The new government is advised to also look for ways to generate funds to fulfil its pledge to those who elected it.”
Aregbesola, who described the financial situation of Osun State as ‘disturbing and unacceptable’, pleaded with CAN leaders to appeal to their congregation to be patient with his government in view of the situation he met on ground.
The governor frowned at the mountain of debts he inherited from his predecessor and lamented the level of poverty prevailing in the state due to lack of vision of previous administration in the state. His words: “The simple truth is that our state has been badly managed. I am not running anybody down. With the level of poverty here, it is unacceptable for anybody to make the building of stadia as priority.”
Source:Sun
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