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Osun Is Indebted To The Tune Of N407.32 Billion – Governor Adeleke

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Ademola Adeleke Becomes Sixth Executive Governor of Osun State

 

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has disclosed that the state is indebted to the tune of N407.32 billion.

Briefing traditional rulers at their monthly meeting at traditional rulers chamber inside the State Government Secretariat on Thursday, the Governor said his predecessor must explain why the state is owing salaries and pensions to the tune N76 billion having gotten N50 billion as bail out for salary.

He said the state owed N331.32 billion while salaries and pensions owed workers amount to N76 billion.

Adeleke explained that the repayment period for the loan facilities ranges from 16 months to about 28 years.

“My good people of Osun state, the total loan stock as of today is N331.32 Billion.

“If the N76 billion debt on salaries and pension are added, the state is indebted to the tune of N407.32 billion. The amount owed to contractors is yet to be determined.

“The only fund in government coffers, as of Monday 29th November, was for November 2022 Salary. Otherwise, the state treasury was empty.

“As your governor, I will ask questions on your behalf. And will demand answers,” Adeleke told the traditional rulers.

He added, “Governor Oyetola must explain how the N331 Billion borrowed in the name of Osun State was expended, with no obvious infrastructural development to justify this huge debt.

“Governor Oyetola must explain how the N18 Billion Bridge Loan taken after he lost the election on July 16, 2022, was expended.

“Governor Oyetola must also explain why Osun state is owing salaries and pension to the tune of N76 Billion after collecting a N50 Billion Salary Bail Out Loan from the Federal Government

“The creditors, especially the Commercial Banks must explain why various loans were given to an administration beyond its 4-year tenure. 28 years is equivalent to the tenure of at least four governors. A child that is born today would have earned a Ph.D. at 28 years of age. This is nothing but mortgaging the future of Osun State with nothing to show for it. This is definitely not acceptable.”

 

According to his statement, while the loans categorized under Budget Support Facility, Salary Bail Out Loan, Restructured Commercial Bank Loans, Excess Crude Account (ECA) Loan, CBN Infrastructure Loan, FGN Intervention Loan, already have a repayment structure plan ranging from 17 months for FGN Intervention Loan, to as much as 27 years and 9 months for the Budget Support Facility loan, the Foreign loans: $86.2m have no repayment plan information and the FGN Bridge Finance Facility took out after July 16th, 2022 to the tune of N18.04 Billion, after the ex-governor had lost his reelection bid, also has no repayment plan.

According to Governor Adeleke, “Not one kobo of these loans were left in Government Coffers, when the Deputy Governor and I resumed work on Monday 29th November 2022. No explanation on how the loan was expended.”

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APC Sweeps Ebonyi LG Polls as Umahi’s Son, 12 Others Emerge Chairmen

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Ebonyi Governor Fires secretary, aide over diesel theft

The All Progressives Congress has recorded a clean sweep in the Ebonyi State local government elections, winning all 13 chairmanship and 171 councillorship seats contested in the poll.

The results were announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, Patrick Enyi, at the commission’s office on Onwe Road, Abakaliki.

Among the winners was Osborn Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who emerged chairman-elect of Ohaozara Local Government Area.

SEE MORE: Mary Habila’s Death: Atiku Demands Umahi’s Immediate Suspension

Other candidates declared winners include Peace Agwu for Ishielu, Paul Ituma for Ohaukwu, Friday Nwuhuo for Ezza North, Chinedu Mkpuma for Ezza South, Chidi Nwode for Ikwo and Timothy Nwachi for Afikpo.

Also declared winners were Ikechukwu Ogbofia for Onicha, Michael Kalu Anyim for Ivo, Simeon Onuoha for Edda, Helen Aduga for Izzi, Chidiebere Alo for Abakaliki and Chibueze Odigwe for Ebonyi Local Government Area.

Enyi described the election as peaceful, free and fair, noting that other political parties participated in the exercise.

He commended voters for turning out to exercise their constitutional rights and appreciated security agencies for providing support throughout the election.

Speaking after his declaration, Umahi commended EBSIEC for what he described as the transparent and peaceful conduct of the election.

He pledged to prioritise rural development, youth empowerment and agricultural transformation during his tenure as chairman.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the party’s sweeping victory as an indication of its dominance in the state.

Emegha said the outcome also demonstrated what he described as the growing acceptance of the APC across Ebonyi, expressing confidence that the party would record another victory in the 2027 general elections.

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2027: ‘Wait for My Final Order’ — Goje Speaks Amid Defection Rumours

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Former Gombe State Governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has denied reports that he is planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Goje made the clarification on Saturday while addressing his supporters at his residence in Gombe, amid speculation over his political future following his loss of the APC senatorial ticket.

SEE MORE: 2027: Uzodimma Gives Imo APC 32 Buses, Demands 100% Victory

The former governor said he was consulting with political stakeholders and would announce his next political move at the appropriate time.

He urged his supporters to remain loyal to the party’s leaders and disregard what he described as attempts to mislead them.

“Do not listen to betrayers, go home, prepare, be loyal to our party leaders and wait for my final order,” Goje said.

He further stated, “I am not defecting to any party now, however I am consulting stakeholders, but I promise I will be with my supporters with or without a Senate ticket.”

The development comes after Goje’s name was omitted from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Goje had contested the APC senatorial primary for Gombe Central but lost the party’s ticket to another aspirant. Reports from the primary indicated that Mohammed Ahmed emerged as the APC candidate for the district.

His supporters had earlier rejected the party’s consensus arrangement that replaced him as the proposed candidate, with his camp questioning the process.

The situation has fuelled speculation about Goje’s next political move, particularly amid reports of overtures from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to offer him its senatorial ticket.

Despite the speculation, Goje has not announced any decision to leave the APC, insisting that he is still consulting stakeholders before taking a position.

Goje served as governor of Gombe State from 2003 to 2011 and was elected to the Senate in 2011. He was re-elected in 2023 for a fourth term representing Gombe Central.

With his name absent from the 2027 senatorial candidates’ list, political attention is now focused on whether Goje will remain in the APC, support another candidate or eventually move to another political platform.

For now, the former governor has asked his supporters to remain calm, loyal and ready for his “final order.”

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2027: Uzodimma Gives Imo APC 32 Buses, Demands 100% Victory

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Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has presented 32 buses to leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state to boost grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Uzodimma presented the vehicles on Saturday at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre, where he charged the party to secure a 100 per cent victory in Imo, insisting that anything less would be unacceptable.

SEE ALSO: Police Summon AIG Moshood Jimoh, Invite VDM Over Explosive Allegations

The 32 buses comprise 27 vehicles for APC Local Government Area chairmen, three for the party’s zonal chairmen, and one each for the state women and youth leaders.

Speaking at the event, Uzodimma said the APC had enough achievements to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, expressing confidence that even opposition supporters would vote for the President.

“We have the material to campaign because President Bola Tinubu has done tremendously well. Even our opponents will vote for President Tinubu,” Uzodimma said.

The governor said the party must deliver a complete victory in the state in the 2027 elections.

“Imo is APC and APC is Imo. We will deliver 100 per cent. 99.9 per cent will be unacceptable,” he noted.

Uzodimma also urged those who regarded themselves as his friends to demonstrate their support by voting for the APC and Tinubu.

“If you are my friend, the only way you can let me know you are my friend is when you vote for APC and support President Tinubu,” he said.

According to the governor, the vehicles were provided to strengthen the APC at the grassroots and enable party leaders to take its message to communities across the state.

“Today we want to support our party chairmen for the tasks ahead. If you say that party is supreme, this is the time,” he said.

Uzodimma, however, cautioned the beneficiaries against using the buses for purposes outside party mobilisation.

“Please use the vehicles for the party. It is important that the vehicles must be used to work for the party,” he added.

The APC State Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, thanked the governor for the gesture, saying the buses would help the party expand its reach across communities in Imo.

Onyedebelu pledged that the party would work towards delivering all APC candidates, from the President to candidates contesting seats in the state Houses of Assembly.

The APC South-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Ijeoma Arodiogbu, also commended Uzodimma for providing the buses, describing him as “a man of grace.”

Arodiogbu urged party officials to deploy the vehicles effectively for grassroots mobilisation, warning that excuses would not be tolerated as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

The 32 buses are expected to be deployed across Imo’s 27 local government areas as the APC intensifies its mobilisation ahead of the elections.

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