As the outgoing Governor of Osun State, Adeboyega Oyetola hands over to the newly-elected Governor, Ademola Adeleke on Sunday, the governor said his administration has left a large sum of N14 billlion in the state coffers, even as he paid N97billion out of the debt he inherited in 2018 when he assumed office.
He explained that his administration didn’t borrow a dime anywhere in the world to finance the economy of the State, saying he successfully kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises since the assumption of office.
Governor Oyetola made the disclosures in a farewell statement to the people of the State, indicating the expiration of his first 4-year term in office.
Governor Oyetola was sworn in on 27th November, 2018 taking over from his predecessor, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
“As we end our first term, rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership.
“For four years, we did not take any bank loan facility. But we benefitted from the N3billion monthly intervention from the federal Government to all the States for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailout accessed by the previous administration, just as we have paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018.
“We are leaving behind cash of over N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR. Also, another Seventy-Two Million Dollars will come to the State soon from RAMP 3, NG-CARES, Nigeria for Women Project and Ease of Doing Business. These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them. It was part of the same performance that earned us the award of Best Governor on Efficiency of Public Expenditure and TOP Performer on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation by the World Bank’s States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability, SFTAS, recently.
“We have gone this length to let you know that Osun under our leadership was sustainable. It was done through fiscal discipline and personal sacrifices,” the outgoing governor said.
The results of the last governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) favoured Senator Ademola Adeleke, a decision that is being challenged by Oyetola and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, the state capital.
Oyetola insisted that his administration has put Osun economy on a surer footing through the myriad of people-centred and masses-focused projects that were timely and promptly implemented to make life worthwhile for the people.
He stressed that Osun under his watch was stable economically as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the State since he assumed office.
“As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our Party, you exercised your right to vote for me.
“As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you. We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises. It was our wish to continue to serve you but we are constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 Governorship election which we are already challenging in court.
“As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law take its course.”
Oyertola expressed his trust in God and the implicit confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it.
