N159bn projects saga: Adeleke clarifies expenditure, denies manipulation of figures

The Osun State Government has dismissed allegations of financial irregularities surrounding the ¦ 159 billion infrastructure projects announced by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, reaffirmed that the expenditure plan remains transparent and comprehensive, refuting claims of manipulated figures.

Rasheed explained that the infrastructure budget unveiled by Governor Adeleke encompasses a wide range of projects, including those not explicitly mentioned in his public address, as they do not fall under the category of large-scale infrastructure developments.

“The projects not listed include bridges, neighbourhood town roads, ongoing interventions in the water sector, and additional developments within the health sector beyond primary healthcare centres,” the statement clarified.

He further detailed the financial allocations, stating: “While the major projects outlined by Mr Governor amount to approximately ¦ 111 billion, additional projects categorised under the general infrastructure sector total around ¦ 48 billion.”

“There is, therefore, no issue of miscalculation or budgetary distortion.”

Rasheed explained that Governor Adeleke deliberately focused on major projects during his speech to ensure brevity, while other essential infrastructure initiatives were omitted for time considerations.

“The full breakdown of the infrastructure plan is, however, available at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.”

He encouraged interested members of the public to visit the State Secretariat to access detailed records, underscoring the administration’s commitment to accountability.