Reacting to the position of the state government that UNESCO had no moral or financial input in the funding of N1.6 billion Olaiya-Jaleyemi-Asubiaro-Orita Olokan road, Omisore, who spoke to Saturday Tribune during a telephone interview said “we only ask Aregbesola to tell the people the whole truth about UNESCO on the road project. He should let the people know. Instead of him to answer the question, he resorted to abuse. He should know that he is accountable to the public”.
Omisore stated further that “it is not his money we are talking about here; it is public money. This is public fund. They should address issues, but they have failed to address nothing. It is not their private money. They are public officers and this is a question of public scrutiny. What I said should not attract personal insults. That is their character. We raised several issues, including other road projects and the controversial issue of MKO Abiola airport, which they have consessioned for over N60 billion, which they failed to respond to.”
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“Instead of naming a road after Osun workers why can’t Mr. Governor pay their full salaries, remit every deduction from workers salaries into appropriate quarters and give Osun State workers all necessary benefits.
“Naming that road after hungry workers is another wickedness on the part of Governor Aregbesola,” Omisore said.
Omisore had on Wednesday called on Aregbesola to tell the people of the state the whole truth on how N1.6 billion Olaiya-Jaleyemi-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan road project was partly funded by UNESCO and the state.
In a press statement signed by his media aide, Mr Jide Fakorede, Omisore said it is deceitful and amount to sheer propaganda for the state governor to hide under the cover of funding the project through the Osun State Conservation Fund.
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The statement obtained by Saturday Tribune in Osogbo reads “it is an open secret and matter in the domain of the public that Osun State government had assessed counterpart funds from UNESCO, which is in excess of over 70 per cent following the designation of Osun Osogbo groove by the world body as one of the World Heritage sites for local and international tourists. This is not new and practical efforts, which climaxed in the attraction of such funds to Osun began during the regime of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But, it is a statement of fact that Aregbesola received counterpart funds from UNESCO.”
“While we would not assist Aregbesola and his dishonest government to disclose the actual amount received on the road project from the reputable international organization, for the purpose of creating unhindered assess for all categories of tourists which he himself admitted publicly few years back, we leave him to ruminate over this sacred facts as a public figure in his innermost mind. Conscience is an open wound”.
The PDP government out of its sincere commitment to boost tourism potentials and enhance effective economic growth of the state made Osun Osogbo Grove a world heritage site so as to attract UNESCO funding assistance. Aregbesola should complete the seven and half roads under construction: Akoda-Sekona-Gbongan, Osogbo Ring Road (10.5 per cent completion), Osogbo-Ikirun-Ijabe-Ila Odo-Kwara State Boundary, controversial Osun Airport, which gulped over N180 billion to date and still gulping.”
“Let him urgently construct or rehabilitate Osogbo-Iwo road, Sekona-Edunabon township road. Ede, Ilesa, Ife, Iwo, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ila, Ifon among other roads. Ede Headworks need urgent attention because it supplies water to 18 local governments, not to mention water dams in Ife, Ilesa, Oyan, Ejigbo, Iwo, Ifedayo, Ifewara, Erin Ijesa, Ifewara that needs attention. Almost eight years of waste, hospitals, clinics, Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) not functioning. WAEC, NECO results of Osun students worst since state creation and workers are still being owed more than 24 months of salary arrears. Pensioners owed millions of naira being paid N100, 000 each.”
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