Osun: Oyetola Didn’t Loot Any State Asset – Aide

The media aide to the immediate past governor of Osun State, Ismail Omipidan has said that his principal, Gboyega Oyetola didn’t loot any state properties.

Naija News reports that Oyetola’s aide has denied the allegation levelled against his principal by the state government that he and his team looted several state properties at the Osun Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

According to him, the allegations were diversionary tactics intended to cover up for the inability to govern the state by the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Omipidan said the panel set by Adeleke to recover looted state properties should be allowed to do its work, adding that the constant accusations of his principal while the panels were still sitting were indications that the panels were set up to do hatchet jobs.

His reaction follows an alleged looting of the Osun Governor’s Lodge in Abuja by Oyetola and his team.

Naija News reported on Monday that the Osun State government had accused the former governor and his team of making away with valuables from the lodge including official vehicles.

A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed disclosed that the alleged looting of the lodge was uncovered during a physical inspection of the facility by the chairman of the State Assets Inventory and Recovery Committee, Dr B. Salam, and other top government functionaries.

Part of the statement also said , “The lodge was stripped of all valuables acquired with public funds by those officials of the past administration. From the main house to the service flats and up to the boys’ quarters, clear indications of valuables removed can be observed. Items such as television sets, chairs, foams, electrical fittings, bed sheets, spoons, and cutlery, among other valuables, were illegally removed from the lodge.

“Every utility vehicle procured for use in the lodge was also carted away from the building. The lodge was in a terrible state, similar to the way we found the Deputy Governor’s quarters and others at the Government House in Osogbo following the brazen looting of that facility.”

However Naija News gathered that Oyetola’s aide, while reacting to the accusation, told Punch that his principal didn’t loot any state assets so the current government should desist from all the statement to mere his reputation.

Omipidan said “If a panel on asset recovery has been set up, why not allow the panel to do its job and then present its findings? You promised to invite people to appear before the panel. You have not heard from them, yet you are passing judgment on them already. What’s the essence of the panel since you already know the outcomes?

“First, they alleged it was my principal who looted. I came up with the inventory and the fact that the new governor’s security operatives took charge of the government house on November 26 and that by November 27, which was the inauguration day, they held a party there. But by December 1, they came up with a lie to say the place was looted. To date, they have not controverted the facts I laid bare.

“I say for the umpteenth time that my principal did not loot any state assets. Therefore, this government should stop these blanket statements of accusing Oyetola and his men of what they did not do and face governance.”