Politics

Osun Govt, APC Bicker Over State’s Debt Portfolio

Published

1 year ago

December 8, 2024

Editor

The Osun State Government and the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Party have expressed divergent opinions with regards to the state’s debt profile.

Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, said the debt portfolio inherited by the present administration has been reduced in the last two years after repayment made by the state government.

While Rasheed blamed the past administration of the state for incurring the debts, the state’s spokesperson for the state APC chapter, Mr Kola Olabisi, urged the state government to desist from blaming the opposition party whenever questions were raised regarding the state’s finances.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Osogbo, the state capital, Rasheed’s comments come in response to claims in a report published by an online newspaper (not PUNCH) which said Adeleke has added more to the state’s debt burden in the last two years.

Rasheed, who dismissed the report, said figures from the Debt Management Office indicate the state’s reduced debt portfolio, as he accused the APC of being the unseen hands behind the said report.

Quoting from the figures released by the DMO, Rasheed said, that as of June 2024, Osun’s domestic and external debts reduced by 42% and 15% in the last two years, respectively.

“The truth remains that the Osun State debt profile has reduced under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the last two years. Data doesn’t lie and cannot be hidden.

“The domestic debt of Osun was ₦148.37 billion as of December 2022 but it has now reduced to ₦86.06 billion as of June 2024. In the same manner, the foreign debt as of December 2022 was $91.78 million but it has now reduced to $78.17 million as of June 2024.

“What this also means in terms of figures is that Governor Adeleke has paid back ₦62.31bn as domestic debt and paid off $13.61m in foreign debt. This is the burden the APC-led past administration imposed on the people of the state. If this administration hadn’t inherited those debts, these said amounts would have been better used for the good people of Osun State.

“The online medium failed to do due diligence and published APC’s fabricated fake news. The figures published by the DMO have now exposed the falsehood and fake news. The fact remains that Governor Adeleke has not taken any loans. There is transparency and accountability in this government. We are concerned about the welfare of the people and we will keep doing that,” Rasheed said.

However, Olabisi, who said the facts available pointed to an increase in the debt portfolio, added that whatever being said by the government about the report was an afterthought.

He said, “Whatever he is pushing to the public now regarding the state debt portfolio is an afterthought which cannot be relied upon. We didn’t cook what was published as it affects the debt portfolio of the state government under Adeleke.

“It is in the public domain already. Where did Olawale (Rasheed) get his figures? It is known to all and sundry. More so, he should stop blaming us for whatever mess they are creating for themselves. They can’t continue to blame us for their ineptitude.”
PUNCH

Related Topics:ADELEKE Osun Osun government

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Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.