The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has lambasted Governor Ademola Adeleke for commissioning the renovated Osun State Government House, allegedly renovated at a cost of N1 billion, amidst the economic hardship faced by residents.
On Saturday, Adeleke unveiled the newly rehabilitated Government House in Osogbo, with top officials and dignitaries in attendance.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the renovation covered the main house, the completion of an abandoned multi-bedroom guest house, remodeling of various structures, refurbishment of derelict facilities, and a facelift of the entire Government House premises.
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Adeleke justified the renovation, stating that his administration was committed to upgrading state assets, irrespective of whether such projects were inherited or initiated by him.
He emphasised the importance of preserving and improving government infrastructure for future generations.
However, the State APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, criticised Adeleke for allegedly spending N1 billion on the Government House renovation during a period of economic hardship and without providing palliatives to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Lawal expressed shock that despite the substantial revenue received by the state government, there is little to show in terms of physical infrastructure development.
He questioned the governor’s priorities, stating that while other states are focused on mitigating the effects of the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal through palliatives, Adeleke was celebrating a project that cannot positively impact the people.
“It is a shame that Governor Adeleke could be involved in flaunting the Government House rehabilitated with N1bn in this austere period and when Osun state has been declared the corporate headquarters of poverty in Yorubaland,” said Lawal who wondered how such showcasing the rehabilitated Government House is helpful to the masses.
“It is a pity that while the counterparts of Governor Adeleke in other states are preoccupied with how to lessen the debilitating effects of the Federal Government removal of fuel subsidy through palliatives, the Osun State governor was busy celebrating something that cannot positively impact the people of the state.
“Any way, we have solace in the fact that the administration of Governor Adeleke is a tenured one of four years which is having 33 more months to be flushed out of the Government House.
“We want to impress it on Governor Adeleke and his co-travellers that we, just like other discerning members of the public in Osun State, are not amused by the Adeleke N1bn rehabilitated Government House which had already been rehabilitated to taste by the immediate-past Governor Gboyega Oyetola now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
“The said Government House rehabilitation was a superfluity, unnecessary and a mere job for the boys fraudulently executed to fleece the state of its common patrimony in Naira and Kobo,” added the Osun APC chairman.