A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Oluwole Oke (PDP, Obokun/Oriade constituency of Osun State) has issued a public apology to former Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Blue Economy, over an EFCC petition linked to one of his constituents.
Oke also criticized the Osun State Government’s decision to petition the anti-graft agency, suggesting the move was politically driven.
The apology and criticism revolve around a petition reportedly filed by the Osun State Government with the EFCC, requesting an investigation into Oyetola for the alleged misappropriation of a $20 million World Bank health grant during his tenure as governor.
Oke took to his official Facebook page on Wednesday to voice his disapproval of the petition and extend his apology to Oyetola.
He also urged the EFCC to disregard the petition entirely.
“Apologies to Gboyega Oyetola over a petition written to EFCC by one of my supposedly constituents,” Oke wrote, conveying his regret over the situation.
Beyond the apology, Oke questioned the motivations behind the state government’s action, emphasizing the existence of established accountability mechanisms within Osun State.
“It’s not a crime for a lawyer to take a lawful brief from any member of society or even the government, but to intentionally take a brief to damage people’s reputations and that of their family? No,” Oke stated, hinting at a possible malicious intent behind the petition.
He further elaborated on the available avenues for financial oversight: “Osun State House of Assembly has a standing Committee on Public Accounts on the legislative side.
“We also have an independent Office of Auditor General of Osun State created by the Constitution to check every Government expenditure and report on the same.”
Oke argued that the Auditor General’s annual report to the State Assembly should serve as the foundation for any investigation into financial irregularities.
“If the Office of Auditor General has done its job and reported to the Parliament, then the Parliament should bring out their report, and if any person is indicted in that report, such a person can then be prosecuted,” he asserted.
Furthermore, Oke reminded the public of the constitutional protections afforded to governors while in office.
“Our Governors also enjoy immunity while in office to avoid distractions,” he explained, suggesting that the petition might be seen as an attempt to undermine Oyetola’s current position.
The lawmaker concluded by raising concerns about the potential damage to future cooperation between the state and federal governments.
“How would the Federal Government believe or trust us that we truly want to collaborate or work together come 2026 and 2027?” he asked, implying that the petition could create a climate of distrust and hinder collaborative efforts.
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