The former governor of Ogun State, Sen Ibikunle Amosun and the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola fondly called Yayi, on Monday clashed over allegations of project diversion.
First to fire the salvo is Sen Amosun, who in a statement from his media office and signed by Lanre Akinwale accused Sen Adeola of misinforming the public with the signboard erected at a library project facilitated by him (the Senator) at Sam Ewang Estate Extension, Abeokuta.
The board project erected at the site of the Library was said to have been tagged
"Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State”.
The library which was inaugurated on Monday by the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Olatunbosun Tijani, is part of the new facilities springing up on the five hectares of land acquired for the Abeokuta City Hall Complex
The multibillion naira City Hall Complex which will boasts of other world class facilities like conference halls, chalets, tennis courts, museums, restaurants among others is being developed to mark the 200 years of Egbaland
Amosun while reacting however said that "What this simply connotes is that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project.
"Otherwise, how could the facilitator of the Library project inscribe a narration, entirely different from what he facilitated?"
Setting the record right, the former governor said that the Ake Pavilion which is about 95% completed and was started in 2019 towards the end of his governorship tenure rremains his sole project and gift to the people of Egbaland.
He explained that there is only one Ake Pavilion conceptualized to be a tourist attraction centre, and is located inside Ake Palace and not at any other place in Abeokuta.
The statement partly reads "The Ake Pavilion project, which is 95 percent completed, contains an impressive 3,000-capacity Amphitheatre with an open performance area of about 3,000sqm.
"It also has three Banquet Halls of varying capacities ranging from 100 to 500, a Museum area showcasing the history of the four quarters (sections) of Abeokuta with shops for artefacts, books, Adire, administrative blocks, and other facilities, all financed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun through his personal resources.
"While Senator Amosun welcomes the facilitation of Federal Government-funded projects to Ogun State, it is essential to ensure that such projects are done with sincerity and without misrepresenting facts.
"We advise Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to provide accurate information to the people of Ogun State, especially Abeokuta, regarding the Library project he facilitated to Ewang Estate Extension".
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations has however denied the allegations of project diversion or an attempt to misinform the public with true status of the Library project.
Adeola fondly called Yayi in a statement by Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro explained that given several appeals by some well meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland, the Senator was able to get budgetary allocation for the renovation of Ake Pavilion.
The Senator added that after working on the appeal of these people and gotten funds allocated for this project, he later got to know that the Ake Pavilion project was a personal project of the former governor.
He explained that due to this new discovery, in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, he used the funds to build the library at the Sam Ewang Estate Extension.
Adeola said that the board project had the inscription "Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State” because that was what the fund was supposed to be used for but for the challenge as explained above.
The statement partly reads "There was indeed, a budget inclusion for the renovation of Ake Pavilion following appeals to Senator Adeola from well meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that was seemingly abandoned for a period.
"What was not made known to Senator Adeola at the point of appeals was the fact that this was a personal project of Senator Amosun and his pledge to complete it in due course using his resources.
"On realization of the involvement of Senator Amosun and the budget having been passed as stated in the project title, Senator Adeola shied away from taking any glory from Senator Amosun good gesture to his community and in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development decided on the construction of a Library in Ewang Estate Extension with the available funds released for the project.
"Finally, there is nothing untoward in the inscription at the Library as that is what is contained in the ministry’s budget that was used to fund the project.
"It would have been otherwise if the signpost was placed at the Ake Pavilion under construction by Senator Amosun.
"There is no need for whipping up controversy on what is meant for educational development of Ogun State as Senator Adeola has facilitated similar projects at Ijebu Ode and elsewhere in Ogun state."
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