Aregbesola declares, “Count Me Out Of The Osun Debt Crisis.”
Adegboyega Oyetola has been advised by Rauf Aregbesola, the previous governor of Osun State, not to bring up the state’s debt portfolio during meetings with Senator Ademola Adeleke, the current governor.
When speaking to a state gathering of traditional leaders, Adeleke promised to look into Oyetola’s debt. He claimed that Osun had a debt portfolio worth about N407.32 billion.
Bola Oyebamiji, a former finance commissioner in the Oyetola government, responded to Adeleke’s assertion by stating that the Aregbesola administration was responsible for the debt since the loans were received between 2013 and 2017.
The notion that Oyetola owes employees pay and pensions totaling N76 billion, as stated by Adeleke, is untrue, according to Oyebamiji, who also noted that the salary and pension arrears mentioned by Adeleke were due by the previous administration.
The state’s Accountant-General is in a better position to provide the truth on the situation, according to Aregbesola, the interior minister, in response to the assertion that his government incurred the debt.
Although he acknowledged taking loans while serving as governor, Aregbesola noted in a statement released in Osogbo on Saturday that the two largest loans he had taken had been paid off, while “the other ones are long-term concessional facilities (given to the state by the federal government)” with low monthly deductions.
He continued:
“Since the Aregbesola debts have been settled, the dispute is between the Adeleke and Oyetola administrations. The N18 billion loan that was taken after the election was not taken by Aregbesola. Oyetola also borrowed money for other things, including federal government salary support.
“They made the situation worse for themselves. After losing the election, there would have been a smooth transition of power if they had formed a transition committee and worked well with the new governor.
“There wouldn’t be animosity because they would have compared notes. But he was busy planting mines in the way of the new governor, making life difficult for him, and spending money carelessly. How did he spend N18 billion? The new administration is responding now. The Oyetola administration would run into issues if the next government brought the issue before the EFCC.
