Aregbesola, to sell the helicopter purchased for security surveillance
and stop "wasteful spending" in order to raise money to pay salaries
of workers in the state.
The Director of Media and Strategy of the PDP in Osun State, Mr. Diran
Odeyemi, gave this advice in a statement made available to our
correspondent in Osoogbo on Sunday.
The statement read, "The PDP is urging the government to sell the
helicopter Governor Aregbesola said was procured for the state and he
should stop frivolous trips to Cuba.
"What this administration told us was that the helicopter was to be
used for surveillance, but we have since discovered that the machine
is only serving the traveling needs of Mr. Aregbesola and his family.
This remains one draining pipe that must be blocked.
"The governor and his aides should also forthwith stop traveling in
chartered aircraft around the world. If President Muhammadu Buhari
could be traveling on British Airways, even when aircrafts in
Presidential fleet are available, there is need for Governor
Aregbesola to borrow a leaf."
The opposition party also accused the governor of wasting the the
state's resources on politics and arming of a group of youth he called
"State Boys."
The PDP called on the new members of the Osun State House of Assembly
not to turn themselves to rubber stamp of the executive arm of the
government.
According to the party, the people of the state now place their hope
on the lawmakers to check the 'excesses of the governor' in the
interest of the masses.
The statement read further, "It is also fresh in our minds, the huge
amount Ogbeni Aregbesola expended on the last Ekiti governorship poll,
Lagos governorship poll, and the Presidential project of the All
Progressive Congress, APC.
"Also, a group of miscreants called 'State Boys' are being illegal
armed and financed by government to unleash terror on many indigenes
of the state by the ruling party.
"All these actions and many other wasteful spending led us to where we
are now, which if they could be reversed, could bring financial
reserves for the state.
"But if Ogbeni Aregbesola will not treat this advise with disdain, and
henceforth, begin to act as governor of all, we believe at least, he
will be able to pay few months of the backlog of salaries owed workers
and retirees."
However, the governor described the suggestions and allegations from
the opposition party as infantile.
Speaking through a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Semiu
Okanlawon, Aregbesola said the PDP was just seeking cheap publicity
with their suggestions and spurious allegations.
The statement read, "It is disheartening this is how degenerate PDP
has become in their thinking process. They screamed ignorantly about
two years ago that Osun procured a helicopter with a sum of N8
billion. We had asked them to find out the cost of a Boeing plane let
alone a helicopter which was only leased and it was to beef up the
Osun Swift Action Squad for its aerial surveilance. This was clear to
all in the state that the helicopter was procured as part of the Rauf
Aregbesola administration's comprehensive security measures to drive
criminals far away from the state.
"For the PDP in its narrow thinking to tell us to sell the helicopter
is a sign of intellectual laziness. The allegations that Aregbesola
uses the helicopter for his personal use lack any evidence.
"It is obvious the PDP, after it has reached its final bus stop of
defeat rigmarole, as typified by the Supreme Court decision of May 27,
is merely looking for something to keep it relevant.
—PUNCH
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