Politics
Adeleke Has Neither Borrowed, Nor Draw Personal Security Votes – Spokesperson
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke is governing without borrowing a single kobo and without drawing any security votes, Spokesperson to the State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has said.
He made the declaration in a statement in Osogbo, on Friday.
According to Rasheed, the clarifications became necessary of questions from reporters who quoted some opposition figures alleging that Gov Adeleke had increased Osun’s debt and of accessing security votes to the tune of billions of naira.
He attributed such allegations to pure mischief, ignorance of public finance and deliberate misinterpretation of state data, noting that Gov Adeleke is pursuing his many governance initiatives within the confines of available resources from federal allocations and internally generated revenue.
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According to the Spokesperson, his principal is achieving so much through fiscal discipline, deliberate curtailing of overhead cost and widening of revenue nets, all which resulted in fiscal and financial health of the state.
Rasheed posited that opposition figures displayed ignorance by ignoring the impact of the exchange rate crisis on the inherited external debt stock of Osun State, explaining that the weak naira increased the naira value of the state debt stock.
“The Debt Management Office is the national debt data repository. According to the DMO, Osun owed foreign lenders the sum of $91,779,393.97 as of December 31, 2022, and by December 31, 2023, the external debt profile of Osun stood at $87,247,488.51.
“From the figures above, Osun’s external debt dropped. The noticeable difference in the naira value of Osun external debt was due to the significant devaluation of naira. In 2022, a dollar averaged at N460, and so, the naira value of $91,779,393.97 Osun’s external debt in 2022 was N41bn compared to 2023 when a dollar averaged N1,400, which is essentially why despite the fact that Osun debt reduced to $87,247,488.51, the naira equivalent was N78bn”, the Spokesperson narrated.
“On the allegation of security services votes included in the uploaded budget performance report, let me clarify that the subhead only referred to the cost of various security services and operations across the state which is different from the conventional concept of security votes as drawn by most state governors.
“The security service funds in the identified subhead were used among other interventions to service special peacekeeping operations, provide logistics support to quench inter communal clashes and support the operations of the different security agencies across the state.
“The funds meant for various security related services are accessed through normal approval processes with appropriate records kept. We however firmly affirm that Mr Governor did not and is not drawing any personal security votes as is the convention before his assumption of office. This is in line with his avowed commitment to free state resources to execute his ambitious five-point agenda”, the Governor’s Spokesperson noted.
He described as defeatist the recent penchant of the opposition to twist state finance data to support false narration, submitting that such failed strategy confirms the opposition has run out of ideas and initiatives in the face of Governor Adeleke’s widely acknowledged exceptional performance.
Prince Odianosen Okojie, husband of actress Mercy Johnson, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at his home on September 20, 2024.
According to a statement released by the okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza on Friday, the armed assailants posing as police officers attempted the attack but were stopped by Okojie’s security detail.
The incident occurred when the attackers arrived in a Lexus GX 470 with Rivers State registration number PHC 253 FF, claiming to have an appointment.
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Upon entering the residence, they were confronted by security personnel who intervened.
While two of the attackers fled, the driver and one other suspect were apprehended and are currently being interrogated by the Nigeria Police Force’s Area Command in Uromi.
Reports indicate that the suspects confessed they were sent by leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Esan North East Local Government Area.
The statement reads, “it was unsuccessful owing to the intervention of security personnel attached to the lawmaker”.
“The armed thugs who disguised as police officers along with two others, invaded the residence of Hon. Okojie, claimed to be on appointment and proceeded to the seating room.
“Following the intervention of the security personnel attached to the lawmaker, two of the armed thugs fled leaving behind the driver and another who are currently being interrogated by officers from the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Uromi.
“The suspects have so far made a confessional statement stating that they were sent on the mission by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Esan North East Local Government Area.”
With the curtain drawing on campaigns for the Edo State’s gubernatorial election slated for Saturday, September 21, Peter Obi has sounded the gong for the electorate to speak with their votes.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 election took to his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday to urge voters to make the right choice.
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Putting the Labour Party forward as the best option, Obi maintained that elections “are opportunities to present authentic leadership and drive meaningful development.”
Obi wrote, “As campaign for the Edo governorship election on 21st September 2024 comes to an end today, troubling comments continue to emerge.
“One party admits to having packaged fake leaders in the past — who knows what they offer now? Perhaps expired ones — while another insists it is a do-or-die affair.
“At Labour Party, we offer genuine leadership built on competence, capacity and compassion. For us, elections are not war; they are opportunities to present authentic leadership and drive meaningful development.”
“A new Nigeria is POssible! -PO”
Ahead of the Edo State governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, President Bola Tinubu has called on all stakeholders to maintain peace and engage in sportsmanlike conduct.
In a statement released on Friday, Tinubu urged candidates, political parties, and their supporters to respect the democratic process and the will of the electorate.
The statement, signed by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized the President’s belief in voters’ ability to make informed choices about their leaders.
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President Tinubu highlighted that democracy relies on civility, tolerance, patience, and adherence to electoral rules.
He noted the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conducting a free and fair election, encouraging all parties involved to collaborate for a smooth and peaceful process.
The President commended the candidates and political parties for their issue-focused campaigns, which address the key concerns of Edo citizens, such as enhancing livelihoods, promoting economic growth, and contributing to national development.
Tinubu urged all citizens to remain peaceful and respectful during the voting process and to resolve any disagreements through established legal channels.
Additionally, he expressed strong confidence in the professionalism and integrity of security agencies and INEC officials, urging them to act impartially and refrain from any actions that might compromise the election’s integrity.
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