Adeleke’s One Year: The first Osun Executive Governor to prioritise abandoned projects
By Ismail Azeez and Jeleel Olawale, Osun
Nigeria is among the most underdeveloped countries in the world, while the deficits are among the highest due to abandoned projects in the country which are mostly affected by the transition of power every four years.
Senator Ademola Adeleke has shunned the old way of some Nigerian politicians as the sixth executive governor of Osun state by prioritising the completion of the abandoned projects of the previous administrations.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has re-awakened hope of the people of Osun state by revisiting uncompleted projects in the state public health, roads infrastructure development, water, and education among others.
Governor Adeleke of the People Democratic Party (PDP) who dislodged the then incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was sworn in to office on November 27th, 2022 after 12 years of reigned of the APC in Osun state.
Former governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who unseated ex-Osun Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the PDP terminated billions of naira projects of the ex-governor.
Aregbesola said, “In view of the excruciating N18.38 billion loan by the previous government and major financial transactions and contracts from May 2003 to November 2010, and the records we met on ground, there is the need to probe government activities hence the inauguration of this commission of inquiry to look into the matter without fear or favour.”
Meanwhile, Ogbeni Aregbesola administration’s uncompleted projects also received low attention from his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy despite being a member of the same political party, APC.
…Adeleke restates commitment to complete inherited projects
Recently, Governor Adeleke restated his commitment to complete projects started by previous administrations in the state irrespective of political differences.
The Governor noted that his decision was due to his belief that public funds must not be wasted.
Adeleke affirmed his commitment to completing all the projects started by the previous government and putting them to good use for the people of the state.
He pledged the commissioning of the office complex of the Osun State Health Insurance Agency, constructed by the state government.
Adeleke noted that the office would create a conducive environment for the administration of health insurance policies for better health for the citizens.
He said his administration is committed to providing adequate health care for the people of the state, adding that healthcare workers who left would be replaced soon.
He said, “I pledged to complete all abandoned and uncompleted projects inherited from the previous administrations. I remain committed to that obligation. Public funds must never be wasted due to political differences. I have completed several of such uncompleted projects.
“Today, we are commissioning another inherited project to house a very successful state agency, the OHIS. From this new edifice, our administration will continue its drive towards expanded health coverage and access. The Health Insurance office complex is to create a conducive environment for the administration of health insurance policies for a better health for Osun citizens.
“We are creating an enabling environment to retain our health professionals. We target action against Japa syndrome. Our government has approved the full payment of Hazard allowances to all our health staff as approved by the Federal Government.
“We also intend to replace all healthcare workers that have left with new ones with improved packages. This has been adequately appropriated for in the 2024 budget.
“I want to use this opportunity to encourage the informal sector; traders, artisans, businessmen, unions etc to key into the program. The premium is so small and the benefit so large. Government will continue to support the Osun citizens through OHIS until we can achieve Universal Health Coverage.”
…Adeleke probes Ilesa Water Project over the slow pace of work
Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed a full-scale probe of the six-year-old Ilesa Water Project, following the slow pace of work.
Adeleke has also suspended the Project Consultant, Mrs Tawa Williams, over alleged questionable handling of the $106 million loan for the project.
The Governor, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said there is no progress on the project despite the reported disbursement of N10 billion and another $28 million on it.
According to Adeleke, the suspension of consult was to allow unhindered review of the loan administration, even as the consultant was directed to return the N70 million bulletproof jeep given to her on the project to the government.
Adeleke, however, frowned at what he described as large-scale corruption reflected in the handling of the loans and project, noting that it is regrettable as it denied the people of Ilesa and environs of drinkable water.
He said, “My administration will dig into this matter with all seriousness. The huge funds in question are loans to be repaid. We have a sacred duty to ensure accountability and transparency in the handling of the fund and the project.”
According to the interim report of the Salami-led committee, “The Islamic Development Bank agreed to fund the project to the tune of $65m while the Federal Government provided $41.94 million.
“So far, a total of $27.073 million has been expended from the IDB loan of $65 million, leaving a balance of the sum of $37.926 million.
“From the Federal Government loan of $41.94 million which the consultant had reportedly converted to N12 billion, the sum of N10 billion had been purportedly spent on the project, leaving a balance of N2 billion.”
The committee noted that despite the huge sums of $27.073 million and N10 billion already spent so far, the Ilesa water project is not yet functional and the good people of Ilesa are yet to access any water.
The recommendations of the committee which Governor Adeleke endorsed include: Suspension of the Consultant and the Project Coordinator with immediate effect; review of the process leading to the auctioning of the various water pipes across the state and the revenue which accrued therefrom.
…Adeleke inaugurates 10.5km Second Phase Dualisation of Osogbo – Ikirun Second Phase Road project
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has inaugurated the second phase of the dualisation of the Osogbo–Ikirun–Ila Odo, Kwara State boundary road which is 10.5km, from Osogbo Steel Rolling Company to Ikirun, Ifelodun local government area of the state.
Early in 2023, Governor Adeleke mobilised the Construction Company back to the site, for the continuation of the Osogbo/Ikirun/Ila Odo Kwara boundary road which was started by the Rauf Aregbesola Administration.
Adeleke in his address at the inauguration, “Today signifies another landmark in the annals of the history of our dear state. This government has been able to meet the yearnings and aspirations of her citizens for a good road linking Osogbo–Ikirun within her first 100 days in office.”
According to him, “This road project commenced on 9th January 2013, under the administration of former Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, with the First Phase from Old Garage to Osogbo Steel Rolling Company which was commissioned on 19th November 2018.”
Adeleke noted that the immediate past governor, being a member of the same political party as his predecessor, paid lip service to the project at the detriment of the entire populace of Osun State.
He stressed that “there is no gainsaying, my administration commenced about 100 days ago and I made a covenant with God and the people of Osun State that all the meaningful ongoing projects embarked upon by the previous administration would not be abandoned, but would be completed in record time.”
Adeleke noted that the event heralded a clear testimony of his covenant and further assured that another phase of the project would commence immediately.
He opined that he used the project as proof to assure the entire people of Osun State about his administration’s commitment to the accelerated infrastructure development across the nooks and crannies of the state.
However, the spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Rasheed said, the monumental achievements in the area of infrastructure in the past year by Adeleke have surpassed any previous governments in the history of the state.
The Governor said he has constructed 90 kilometers of roads with 45 ongoing, sunk 332 boreholes in various local governments, rehabilitated 31 schools within a space of one year with another 31 in the pipeline, and vowed to do more for the people of the state.
“Completion of key intercity roads like the Ikirun-Osogbo, lwo-Osogbo roads, and 45 kilometers ongoing road construction.”
He said 332 water projects were built across the local government of the state, hinting that major water work at Iwo, Ede, Osogbo, and Eko ende is under rehabilitation.
He noted that in the health sector, the Imole Medical Outreach had carried out immediate surgeries with over 50,000 beneficiaries so far. He added that 45 health centres have also been rehabilitated. The governor has addressed the needs of the doctors to end ‘Japa syndrome’.
The spokesperson also said the Adeleke administration has introduced a digital economy with a new ICT and technology innovation policy. A bill has been developed to domesticate the Nigeria Startup Act.
“Adeleke reformed the public service by ensuring professionalism. The Governor had paid the inherited pension and half salary debt of the previous administrations. The government just enrolled all pensioners in the health insurance scheme.
“The government repositioned the tourism sector into a tourism and cultural industry. A lot of work is ongoing into raising the sector as a major revenue source for Osun state.
“The administration is actively creating an environment for the thriving of creative arts. We’ve revitalised key festivals, positioning them as global entertainment opportunities—from the Osun Osogbo Festival to the Sango Festival and the introduction of the Adire Festival.
“The Governor disclosed that the sports sector is undergoing major reform and that a sports commission has been set up charged with the mandate of expanding into other games beyond football and agriculture.”
According to him, the government is working on the establishment of agricultural processing zones as well as further support for the mechanization of farming in the state.
“We have restored the local government system with elections to hold for a year or so. Grassroots government is now ongoing.
“For the mining sector, we are recording an increase in revenue generation. Accumulated service charges on our licenses have been cleared. We are at the tail end of upgrading our exploration leases to mining leases. This will bring more investors to the state.
“Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental management plan are now a must before mining operation. Cleaning up the polluted environment is also ongoing. Our mining operation now has zero tolerance for environmental degradation.”
In an interview with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Durojaye Isaac said, the governor has a 5-point agenda which he has vigorously implemented, saying the 5-point agenda is split into annual plans across the sectors. He stated that all the projects were executed in one year without borrowing.
“I am happy to inform you that Mr. Governor has delivered on the first-year plan in line with the review which he said has surpassed the target. Pension and half salary arrears owed by past administrations, running into billions of naira have been cleared.”
He said the Governor recently issued a N2.9 billion pension bond to the pensioners in the state. The Nigeria Union of Pensioners conferred on the governor the award of the most workers’ friendly governor which is a testimony to the good work the governor is doing in the state.
“Governor Adeleke assured Osun people of the sustained pursuit of the progress of the state, assured the governor readiness to continue to give priority to the welfare of workers in the state. The Governor’s faith in a five-point agenda for which workers’ welfare is number one remained sacrosanct.”
He said the political space of the state was analysed and concluded then that the smartest way to grow Osun is workers’ welfare.
“The government remained strongly pro-people, pro-workers and pro-development. We will continue to combine the welfare of the people and workers with state-of-the-art infra upgrades of the state. Osun is targeted to be a Singapore of Nigeria, the Governor noted,” he said.
…Adeleke unveils N100 billion infrastructural plans, construct five flyovers
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also unveiled plans for a multi-billion-naira infrastructural project to be executive in the state in 2024.
Adeleke, who said the purpose of the unveiling of the plan is to address the huge deficit the state is currently experiencing, added that funds that will be used to execute the project would be sourced from those saved from blocked leakages and already saved in special project accounts.
Adeleke maintained that the project would be completed within one year, adding that his administration also planned to construct five flyovers to ease traffic across the state.
The governor explained that two flyovers would be constructed in Osogbo, one in Ile-Ife, one in Owode-Ede, and one in Ikirun town.
He also said 45 roads across the 30 local government areas in the state have been selected for construction in the N100 billion infrastructure development plan for the state.
He also insisted that the projects would be executed by his administration without any loan from a financial institution.
“Let me declare here that the infrastructural plan I am about to unveil is purely state-sponsored without any loan from financial institutions. I must also add that we are hitting the ground running immediately after this launch. We are complying with all procurement laws and due process.
“Very importantly, our administration is ensuring localisation in the implementation process. Local content in terms of sourcing materials and workforce is key to transferring skills and economically empowering our people.
“This is in line with the administration’s 5-point agenda.
“With the flag off, the administration is determined to eliminate capital flight.
“We are getting set to key into infrastructural financing opportunities as long as it will not add to the financial burden of the state.”
But the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) disagreed with the achievements of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the first year of the governor’s administration, describing it as window dressing.
The party cataloged alleged infractions committed by Adeleke since he came on board as the governor and passed a failed verdict on him.
