Gov Rauf Aregbesola Speaks On Osun Debt Burden
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is fearless and fiery, he has in the recent times faced a stiff criticism from the opposition camp and it mostly centers on the alleged huge debt burden on the neck of the state, the governor has, however, described as mere exaggeration the alleged heavy burden of debt hanging on the neck of the state.
Aregbesola said the N165billion debt being touted as huge debt is nothing compared with the development that the state has witnessed in the last six years. Aregbesola finally opened up on the issue through a statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, which quoted the Governor as making the observation while declaring open a one-day seminar organised for information officers in local government and local council development areas and area offices across the state. As typical of the governor, it wasn’t without innuendos and verbal onslaught.
Aregbesola said if those spreading the rumour of huge debt by the state understand what governance is all about with the little that God has done through his government in the state, they would know that the debt is nothing to write home about.
He stated that if the so-called N165 billion debt is divided by the 4 million population of residents of the state, the burden of each person out of this debt is N2,031.25 annually.
“To analyse this alleged 165billion debt, Osun is made up of 4million people. Four million residents are here in Osun and this debt anyway has been transformed largely to a bond organised by Federal Government that would last for 20 years.
“Let us now divide N165billion by 4 million people for 20 years. To help you mathematically, this will give N2,031.25 as cost of N165billion debt to every resident of Osun per annum.
“Ironically, this debt that people are shouting and crying about summed up to N5:56K per person daily. This practically means that every Osun resident carries a burden of N5:56K per day.
“This government we are talking about that puts burden of N5:56K to every citizen of the state thus feeds every pupil in the public school with N70 every school day.
“That government guarantees security for every citizen and the cost for security cannot be determined. That government ensures that roads are increasingly getting better.
“That government provides access to rural areas. That government ensures that Osun school functions at the best form. That government guarantees water supply.
“That government guarantees sanitation. That government guarantees so much. That in practical economic terms, is far beyond what individual must have to give on a daily basis.”
BABA WAHAB ADDS A YEAR
The Chief of Staff to Governor Abdul Fatah Ahmed Alhaji Babatunde Yusuf Wahab was a year older last week. Cabinet members and Government House staff organized a surprised birthday celebration for him and the elated top government functionary was full of smiles as he appreciates the show of love. The Ilorin born amiable dude paid his dues in the private sector before veering into public sector via appointment.
GOV. AHMED FLAGS OFF N450m POST GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed last week flagged off Kwara State University (KWASU) Postgraduate School, incorporating the School of Business and Governance in Ilorin with a commitment to developing education at the foundational, secondary and tertiary levels. At the event held at the Old Tate and Lyle Premises, Ajase-Ipo road in Ilorin, Governor Ahmed said his administration had always prioritised human capital development, especially functional education, as an indispensable ingredient of sustainable development. According to the governor, the establishment of the Post Graduate School is in keeping with the government’s resolve to produce quality, skilled and entrepreneurially inclined scholars needed to spearhead a new crop of intellectually sound future leaders.
Governor Ahmed said the university had accomplished much from inception eight years ago with the most recent of which is its ranking among the top 20 universities in the country.
“Much as the University has achieved a lot under its current structure, fulfilling the original multi-campus status envisaged by the government remains a top priority for my administration. Indeed, the construction of this campus is the second fresh project we are funding under IFK. The first project is the ongoing Diamond Underpass, which is the first of its kind in this part of the country. To those who question the utilization of IGR, therefore, I offer this Campus as well as other new and ongoing high value projects as the obvious answer and reason why tax payment is expedient,” Governor Ahmed said.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah said the ground breaking was a foundation of outstanding investment in KWASU as well as improving the institution’s quest for world class learning and research.
Earlier in her remarks, the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Hajia Aminah Ahmed disclosed that the project would be completed within four months with contract sum of N450million.
Hajia Ahmed explained that the establishment of the Post Graduate School was in confirmation of the present administration’s commitment to encourage scholarship and wider enrollment to those seeking opportunity to educate themselves.
