The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, admitted that the immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola; former deputy governor, Benedict Alabi and other appointees of the administration took away their official vehicles after getting approval from Oyetola.
The state’s APC Director of Operations, Sunday Akere affirmed this during a radio programme in Osogbo.
He was reacting to the directive by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the immediate past appointed officials should return government vehicles and property in their possession within 48 hours.
He said it had become a tradition in the state that governors and their appointees leave offices with their official vehicles.
In his revelation, the new Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, said that when he got to his official quarters, it was left empty by his predecessor, Benedict Alabi, as building fittings down to kitchen utensils were carted away.
Some principal officers of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Oragun, were given their official vehicles after N20,000 “depreciation value” was paid, according to available documents.
In the same vein, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs released some government vehicles to some local council officials after approval was got from Oyetola, according to a document.
However, Akere, who maintained that it had become a norm in the government circle for officials to take away their official vehicles in as much such gifts were approved by the state governor, said that it is the practice in Osun State and other states as well as to the National Assembly.
On the removal of building fittings and other items from government official residences, Akere contended that such action was also right because those building items were bought to the place, though with government money, but through personal names of their occupants.
He said that the official quarters were met empty when the administration of Oyetola took over power from Aregbesola, adding that it was justifiable for the immediate past occupants to have removed what they acquired in the buildings.
