By Toba Ajisafe
The State Government of Osun on Wednesday said the report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has vindicated the state and confirmed that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has been prudent and accountable in public spending of the state’s funds.
Responding to lies being told by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on the state’s loan profile, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER, said the report will bridle the tongues of opposition and help to halt the speculation flying around about the state’s debt profile.
The report by NBS which disclosed both the internal and external loans, bond and other credit line obtained by the State Government to N179bn ($96, 347, 432, 73 and N147, 069, 973, 626.49) has also slammed speculations of N600bn, N450billion and N400billion debt.
According to the statement, “The State government wishes to note that the totality of N179bn includes all loans and all other debt instruments obtained by all administrations that have ruled the state since its creation and those inherited from the old Oyo state.
“With the NBS’s 179bn debt figure, the government wishes to note that the loan is still within its capacity to access and pay back in a normal economic situation and government has indeed been servicing its debts without public knowledge before the Peoples Democratic Party induced economic recession.
Baderinwa also faulted PDP’s allegation that the loan secured by the state government was mismanaged saying the ugly financial situation the country found itself was as a result of the party’s misrule.
He explained that the sudden drop in the federal allocation was as a result of the mismanagement of the country’s resources and brazen corruption in the 16 years of PDP’s reign.
“For what it worth, we state that the loans obtained by the Aregbesola’s administration have been prudently and judiciously used for the undisputable, glaring and transformative development that is evident in every part of the state. Any thinking or submission contrary to this must be a product of deluded mind and or mischievous head.
“It is a well known fact that most successful governments in other parts of the world achieve development and great dynamic society through the aid of loans and other financial facilities which they put to good use as have been done in the State of Osun.
“The administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as a visionary, prudent, accountable and proactive one took the loans to finance rapid development of infrastructure that made Osun a reference point and cynosure of good governance in the land.
Adelani referenced China and U.S.A which have developed economies in the world as countries with highest debt profile.
He stated that, U.S.A and China debt profile indicated that as rich as they are, their resources seem not enough for their development plans, thereby resorting to loans.
He noted that, “the new look that the state is carrying today in terms of infrastructure and socio-economic development by which many accolades had been poured on the government of the State of Osun led by Rauf Aregbesola at national and international levels, and the facts that many of its projects have been copied at national and international levels, commendation is what should be showered on the government by the people as they often do.
“We now have good roads and modern schools, our hospitals are now a reliable healthcare centres and not death centres, the state capital is now having a befitting look unlike before. It is left for the mischief makers and the naysayers to appreciate the good work of Rauf Aregbesola; the right-thinking people (both elites and illiterates) of the state are already appreciating and commending Aregbesola’s for the development and transformation of the State of Osun through his hand.”
