Nigeria: I Will Step On Toes in the Process of Rebuilding Ogun – Amosun

29 June 2011

GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State Wednesday vowed not to rest until all the assets illegally mortgaged by the Governor Olugbenga Daniel administration were recovered just as he warned that prominent elders in the state who connived in the illegal disposition of the assets would be made to pay for their misdeeds.

Addressing a stakeholders forum tagged “State of the State Address” at the Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Governor Amosun described the way some of the assets were disposed off as shameful adding that it was done in such away that people of the states were being turned to slaves.

Addressing the filled to capacity hall of the Cultural Centre which had in attendance prominent people including former Governor Olusegun Osoba and former Deputy Governor; Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, Governor Amosun said he would step on toes in the process of rebuilding the state and pleaded with people to be patient with him.

He said “we have to do what we have to do. In the days and weeks ahead, we intend to take some hard and painful decisions. It is not because we intend to inflict pains on our people or that we enjoy their suffering; but just as a surgeon, determined to save the life of a patient does not consider the temporary pains suffered by the patient during surgery, we are determined to do what is right to save Ogun State and rebuild it.

The pains might come, but I assure the good people of Ogun State that they will be temporary and very soon shall see the positive results of our efforts.

“I sincerely crave your understanding, patience, encouragement and trust. We may step on toes, but it is in the process of doing the right thing. I have a responsibility to protect the interest of the people of the state; and that is what I intend to do. We will not fritter your goodwill on the altar of needless political intrigues; neither will we embark on unnecessary populist misadventure.

We want to make life more meaningful for our people and this is the goal we have set for ourselves. This is what our people expect from us”.

Giving an insight into some of the assets mortgaged, Governor Amosun said that Gateway Hotel Abeokuta valued at N1.4 billion was given out at N300 million for 25 years, Gateway Ota valued at 630 million was given out for N120 million for 25 years while Gateway Ijebu-Ode valued at N100 million for 25 years.

Moreover he said that the Trailer Park built with over N2 billion was given out in concession for N10 million for 25 years adding that the concession was even done on May 2nd 2011 which was a public holiday.

On illegal sale of lands in Ogun, Amosun said the revenue that ought to accrue to Ogun State from the huge land allocations was at least N33.8 billion, if we use the Bureau rates. Curiously, for the entire period of 8 years, the last administration posted a meagre N10.9 billion for land allocation and N577 million for land ratification. It may be noteworthy to remind ourselves that our neighbouring Lagos State with less land potentials to ours posted N60 billion for 2009 & 2010. It is obvious, even to the uninformed, that the land resources of our dear State were mindlessly mismanaged

On the State Government property on Victoria Island he said “against the advice of the Ministry of Justice, economic, business and common sense, this common patrimony had been signed off to a private concern by way of dubious concessioning for 50 years.

“Since our assumption of office, we have paid the salaries of civil servants in full. We had to borrow money from the bank to augment what is left of revenue from Federation Account to pay the salaries of civil servants. A substantial chunk of the revenue had been signed out as Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, (ISPO). This is for payment for projects of doubtful value and less than fifty percent stage of completion. This is in a state where the total recurrent expenditure is about five billion naira. In order to pay the eighteen thousand naira minimum wage, the state will need six billion naira monthly.

“When we begin to do what we have to do, some elders would have a lot to account for. We will not witch hunt anybody. We will have toes but it is not because we don’t like them but it is in the interest of Ogun State. I will not rest until all these assets that have been given away are recovered”

OGSIEC members sue Amosun

THE Chairman and members of the dissolved Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission [OGSIEC] has dragged Governor Ibikunle Amosun before the Abeokuta High Court to challenge his dissolution of the Commission.

The eight members in the suit filed on their behalf by Afolabi Fashanu [SAN] are asking for a declaration that the dissolution was wrongful, illegal, unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and that they were still in the service of the Commission.

The members of the dissolved Commission are also asking for an injunction restraining Governor Amosun from appointing any person, group of persons as Chairman or members into the Commission arguing that their 5 year tenure was guaranteed by the 199 Constitution.

AllAfrica – All the Time