Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has restated that President Bola Tinubu would never endorse the misappropriation of public assets. This statement comes in response to accusations from the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) concerning the recently released White Paper.
Leaders of the APC in the state had called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to intervene against what they described as the disruptive influence of Governor Adeleke and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
On January 18, 2024, the Osun State Government issued a White Paper addressing traditional rulers and seeking the recovery of public assets reportedly taken by political appointees during the Adegboyega Oyetola administration.
Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, emphasized that President Tinubu has consistently praised him for addressing the challenges he inherited in Osun. Adeleke noted that President Tinubu strongly disapproves of the misappropriation of public assets.
He stated, “I have had several interactions with President Tinubu, and I am aware that he acknowledges my efforts in rectifying the numerous issues I found in Osun. From the President’s actions, it is evident that he upholds due process and would not support the misappropriation of public assets. It is regrettable that the Osun APC is deviating from the President’s governance style.”
Adeleke highlighted that he established an Asset Recovery Committee at the beginning of his administration, informing individuals with government properties to return them. The Governor emphasized that the committee’s report guides his actions in response to the demands of the state’s residents.
Governor Adeleke asserted that he governs the state without partisan bias, emphasizing that he has not reported any political adversaries to anti-graft agencies, even when there were grounds to do so. He urged appointees from the previous administration to return all government properties in their possession, warning that his administration would vigorously pursue the recovery of all misappropriated government assets.