Oyetola’s N14bn handover note: A challenge for governors, public officials
completing their second term of right years have commenced mop up of state treasuries.
The action of Oyetola should be emulated by serving Governors and other political office holders. It is not strange that most of these outgoing Governors are contesting for Senate so as to defend their cooked accounts.To encourage others to emulate Oyetola, the immediate past Governor of Osun State should be celebrated and not be criticised.
At the same time, the civil societies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC should begin to open books of outgoing Ministers and Governors.
It is not strange that when Governors are leaving the office, the successor finds no money in the account but the opposite is the case of Oyetola who has thus implemented the dream of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Hence, banks should begin to reject fresh borrowing by outgoing Governors. The security agencies should also celebrate and not just be eager to terrorise any public official. How many Governors and Ministers have left money in the treasury since the enthronement of democracy in 1999.Therefore, Oyetola’s N14billion handover note should not be swept under the carpet because of politics but should become a point of reference for serving public officials.
Governors should have conscience about state accounts utilisation while the electorate should not ridicule Oyetola for his transparency and being accountanle to the people. Serving public officials will enjoy their life after office if they can emulate Oyetola.
They will not become customers of the EFCC and ICPC if they remember that government is continuous. Nigerians should stop celebrating politicians puting money in the pocket of hoodlums and family members but politicians that are accountable to the people. Now is the time for Governors to lavoid expenditures that will not add value to good governance. They should take time to study the model adopted by Oyetola who inherited a debt ridden account but handed over the account to another administration with N14billion.
Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola is an hero of democracy that should attract honour by Transparency International and other global anti-corruption rating bodies.
