Oyo House of Assembly has launched an investigation into the whereabouts of the 320 tractors and other farm implements distributed to 20 local government areas of the state in 2013.
The Governor Abiola Ajimobi government had in 2013 distributed 16 tractors each to 20 agrarian local government areas, out of which 12 are to be leased out for farming purposes at about N4 million each, while four are for hire.
Stemming from an observation made by Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly, Honourable Olaleru Adebayo, at plenary, that the tractors meant to be leased out or put up for hire may have grown wings, the Assembly mandated the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to investigate.
In his prayers, Olaleru noted information that some of the tractors were not more sited at local governments and may have been sold out to neighboring countries.
Present and former Chairmen and members of transition committees are to be questioned in the investigation towards retrieving the tractors from beneficiaries who have reneged, or neglected to fulfill their responsibilities on the tractors leased out to them.
The Committee is expected to reveal the amount gained or recovered from the leasing out of the tractors and whether the four meant for hiring are at local governments.
The house Committee chaired by Honourable Bolaji Badmos was mandated by the Honourable Micheal Adeyemo led assembly to submit the report of its investigation in the next three weeks.
“It was alleged that in virtually all the affected local governments, the beneficiaries did not pay back to the coffers of government as agreed. This amounts to breaching of agreement for the lease of the tractors. Investigation further revealed that, the laudable programme has suffered setback due to its politicization. The beneficiaries have taken undue advantage of the scheme for their personal benefit.
“Some of these tractors are presently not within the jurisdiction of the local government area. Some allotees have decided to take away the tractors outside the local governments. Regrettably, our own farmers that supposed to benefit from the laudable programme are being deprived through the unscrupulous act of these people,” Olaleru said.
Contributing, Honourable Olusegun Olaleye of Ibadan II Constituency prayed that the investigation gives no room for sacred cows, noting that the report may be indicting on serving and former public office holders at different levels of government.
and then