Osoba and I will resolve differences - Amosun

Amosun Osoba

L-R: Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun when the going was good

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, southwest, Nigeria has revealed that peace talk is ongoing to resolve the internal crisis rocking the party, All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Amosun also declared that the former governor of the state and a chieftain of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba remain the leader of the party and his leader, warning detractors to stop meddling into their affairs.

The governor stated this on Tuesday 26 August in a live broadcast on the state owned radio and television station, OGBC and OGTV while reeling out his programmes in the last three years and three months in office.

The programme, tagged: “My Stewardship” was anchored by seasoned journalists led by the General Manager of Ogun State Television, OGTV, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga.

According to the governor, “I have said it times without number that the issue between me and my leader, our leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba is an internal issue and I don’t want to discuss it again. When an issue is under resolution, one must be wary of what to say, especially on TV as some mischievous people out there will not be happy with the development.

“Some people who are not in our party that we know are our leaders, we accord them the regard, not to talk of Chief Olusegun Osoba, who is a chieftain of our party. He remains our leader and we will forever be loyal to him,” Amosun stated.

L-R: Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun when the going was good
L-R: Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun when the going was good

On the debt profile of the state, the governor revealed that those saying the state owed up to 300 billion naira are mischievous and they are yet to wake up from their slumber.

The governor challenged them to come out with fact and figures to counter his claim that the state is not owing up to what they are claim, adding that, the spate of work has caught them unaware.

“They are wondering how these works have been done, they don’t believe what they are seeing, because when they were here for eight years they could not achieve what we have achieved in just three years. They have not seen anything yet, this is Ogun state, we can’t just be doing substandard work here as they did during their time, it must be a standard one and nothing except that.

“I want to state here tonight, thank God, this is a live programme, everybody is seeing and hearing me, the debt profile of Ogun state as I am speaking will be between 35 and maximum of 40 billion naira. No bank can give you such amount as being peddled around by these people. I am an accountant and I know what I am talking about. At the end of the year, maybe our debt profile may nosedive to something about 11billioin naira.

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“Let any of the banks come out and debunk all what I have said. We are using only two banks in the state and anybody can go in there to verify what I have just said. There is no truth in all what they are saying that we are owing 300billion naira,” the governor revealed.

On the allegation that the governor is planning to impose his candidates on the party ahead of 2015 elections, Amosun assured that all aspirants will be given equal treatment, adding that, they will have a level playing ground in picking would-be candidates for the party.

Amosun explained so much on the planned programmes of the administration, urging the good people of the state to be calm and patient as the end will surely justify the means.

He expressed dissatisfaction on the way the students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago Iwoye reacted to the issue of tuition reduction, which led to the closure of the institution.

Governor Amosun said the students needs to understand the situation of the government, saying, much has been expended on educational sector than roads in contrary to claims by the people.

He revealed that the past administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel owed almost 1.9 billion naira before it left office, adding that, “In the handing over note, they claimed we are owing N49.7bn, which is approximately N50 billion naira. And as you know, this is my profession, we contracted it out to firms and we were able to see that, they were owing N86 billion naira.

“Aside that many issues came up which are now in court. They include their handing over note, among them is the issue of Gateway Holdings. On OOU issue, we have done what is supposed to be done and the students should just take that for now. When the last protest happened, I was not around, I was away in Abuja and I had to rush back home to address the matter.

“Security operatives informed that I should not move closer to the boys, but I said no, I drove to them and told them that I will not address them on the road and ordered them to move with me to the stadium. We discussed the matter and I set up an ad hoc committee to look into their demand that the implementation of the reduction must commence from now and now is 2014/2015 as stated because they are in the first semester.

“After the committee sittings, they led the students to see reasons why their demands could not be possible, out of 11 schools, how could one school be hell bent on what cannot be possible, but instead for them to listen and reason with us, they are planning to cause unrest and to avoid breakdown of laws and order, we ordered that the school be shut. I can’t promise what can never be possible, we cannot reduce the tuition. Just because I want to please an institution, I cannot collapse the institution,” Amosun explained.

The governor, however, solicited the support of the good people of the state, promising that better days are ahead for them in the state.

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