Osun: APC, PDP In Fresh War Of Words Over N407.32bn State Debt Profile

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have embarked on a fresh war of words over the issue of the state’s N407.32 billion debt portfolio.

Naija News reports that both parties in counter-statements have risen in defence of their leaders while alleging that they know nothing about the said debt.

The Osun PDP, in a statement by its acting chairman, Dr Adekunle Akindele has earlier faulted the immediate former state governor Adegboyega Oyetola for incurring such debt in the state.

The party alleged that Oyetola was the source of financial and misgovernance rot in the state, adding that the now-opened debt profile had been long covered in secret.

The party claimed that the long-shrouded secret debt has affected the state’s finances, investor perceptions, and the general well-being of the people.

The party applauded the incumbent state governor, Ademola Adeleke for revealing the secret, while commending his transparency and accountability in the management of state affairs.

Naija News reported last week Thursday that Adeleke had accused Oyetola, his predecessor, of incurring debt to the tune of N407.32 billion before leaving office.

Adeleke at a gathering with some traditional rulers in the state alleged that Oyetola had collected some loans after his defeat in the July 16 state governorship election and that presently the debt profile of the state stands at N407.32 billion.

He also claimed that the only money left in the government coffers was the November 2022 salary of workers.

However, Oyetola, through his media aide, came out to deny the allegation, blaming his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola for the debt.

Meanwhile, Aregbesola has also come out to defend himself, saying he knows nothing about the said debt and that the impasse was between Adeleke and Oyetola, so he shouldn’t be dragged into it.

He also blamed Oyetola for bringing the problem upon himself, saying he was the one who refused to hand over office properly to Adeleke.

However, the PDP in its reaction said “From eight years as Chief of Staff to a calamitous one-term rule, Oyetola bastardised the state economy, deepened the state’s debt overhang, hid the financial mess under bogus data, supervised the plundering of state assets, presided over a huge revenue robbery regime, and coordinated an extensive nest of solid mineral bandits. He bears sole responsibility for the debt crisis.

“Secondly, unfolding developments confirmed the APC as the worst thing to ever happen to Osun state. For a state to be so deeply in debt while the facts remain unknown to the citizens is a manifestation of Mr Oyetola’s anti-people, inhuman leadership. Worse still, the state is still grossly underdeveloped despite the over N400 billion in debt.”

But Naija News understands that the APC in the state have also countered the PDP’s claim saying the incumbent governor, Adeleke was only making unfounded and diversionary allegations against Oyetola to cover up for his incompetence to govern the state.

In a statement signed by the APC acting chairman in the state, Taju Lawal, the party submitted that “The grandstanding of Governor Adeleke is a ploy to feign an alibi for the state government workers that it would not be possible for him to offset their salary/pension arrears as a result of the alleged inherited debt in line with his campaign promises to pay the same within six months of the life of his administration.

“Is it not funny that instead of Adeleke being on ‘pupilage’ under the immediate-past Governor Oyetola on his magic wand for not failing to pay salaries and pensions as and when due throughout his tenure, the PDP governor abandoned governance for politics to the detriment of his administration.”