The outgone Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has replied his immediate successor, Governor Ademola Adeleke, following the alleged claim that he (Oyetola) incurred N75billion debts while in office.
Faulting the allegation through one of his aides, Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola stated that the claim was false on the grounds that he did not owe salary arrears during his tenure.
In a statement made available last night, Omipidan insisted that his principal was up to date on the issue of salary payment and did not leave any debt for Adeleke.
The statement reads in part, “The claim by the Government of Osun that the Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration owed salary arrears and pensions to the tune of over N75 billion is not only outlandish but preposterous.
@Our suspicion is that they have gone to dig up the arrears owed by their partner and collaborator, the settlement of which they used to hoodwink some workers ahead of July 16 governorship contest.
“For the umpteempth time, let me place it on record that for four years, we did not owe a dime in payment of salaries, while we made conscious efforts to reduce the backlog of pensions and gratuities we inherited. This also explains why for four years we did not witness any industrial dispute.
“By their figure, what it means is that we owed salaries for close to one year. Is that possible? The Labour Union can also bear testimony to the fact that we never left any salary unpaid in our time, just as we did not take any bank loan for four years.
“The new Governor and his team want to ride on a populism mantra.
Unfortunately, They do not understand the concept and philosophy of populism. That’s why they have resorted to blackmail.
“On the day of inauguration, the Governor said it would take time for him to pay salaries because he needed to freeze government account to enable him to look at the books. Today, he is saying he frowns at delay in payment of salary.
“ And for November salary, we actually signed off since November 20th. I am sure we are in for more drama.
