Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has emphatically asserted that President Bola Tinubu would never support the looting of public assets, addressing recent accusations made by the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) in response to the issued White Paper.
The Osun APC leaders had called upon President Tinubu and security agencies to intervene in what they termed the anarchic governance of Governor Adeleke and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This outcry followed the issuance of a White Paper on traditional rulers and the alleged misappropriation of public assets by political appointees during the previous Adegboyega Oyetola administration on January 18, 2024.
Governor Adeleke, in a statement conveyed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, emphasized that President Tinubu consistently commends him for addressing the challenges he inherited in Osun.
Adeleke highlighted the President’s strong stance against the looting of public assets, stating, “From the actions of the President, he has shown he is a man of due process and, as such, will never support looting of public assets.”
The governor expressed disappointment in the Osun APC, accusing them of deviating from the President’s governance style.
He stated, “It’s now unfortunate that Osun APC is showing acts that are contrary to the President’s style of governance.”
Adeleke defended his administration’s commitment to transparency, citing the establishment of an Asset Recovery Committee early in his tenure.
Adeleke revealed, “At the inception of our government, I set up an Asset Recovery Committee, with most of those with government properties alerted to the need to return them.”
He clarified that his actions are based on the committee’s report, responding to the demands of the state’s residents. The governor emphasized that he has governed the state without partisan affiliations and has refrained from involving political adversaries in anti-graft agencies, even when there were justifiable reasons to do so.
While urging appointees from the previous administration to return government properties, Adeleke issued a stern warning that his administration would relentlessly pursue the recovery of all looted government assets.
The governor’s commitment to upholding due process and transparency remains a focal point in his response to the allegations, affirming President Tinubu’s unwavering support for a governance free from the stain of corruption.
