Adegboyega Oyetola, the outgoing governor of Osun State, claims that his administration is leaving N14 billion in cash in the state’s coffers for the state’s new administration.
This was stated by Governor Oyetola in his final address to the State’s citizens.
The departing governor asserted that his administration had effectively paid N97 billion of the whole debt it had acquired when he took office in 2018.
He admitted that, since taking office, his administration had followed its election promises and had not taken out a single loan of any kind anywhere in the world to finance the state’s economy.
On November 27, 2018, Governor Oyetola took over from Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and was sworn in.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results of the most recent governorship election on July 16th, favoring Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP. Oyetola and his party, the APC, have already filed a petition with the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, located in Osogbo, to overturn this decision.
“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.
“However, we look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon, as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it.
“As we end our first term, be 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
“On behalf of our team, I appeal to you all to continue to be law abiding and to work assiduously to build the Osun of our dream. Together, we shall continue to mend the broken walls of our dear State and restore her glory for our collective good and that of posterity.” Oyetola added.
He thanked God and residents of the state for their support, cooperation and prayers during his tenure as Osun state governor.
