By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Government has explained that it spent the oil revenue and 13 percent oil derivation that accrued to the state, judiciously.
Giving the explanation against the backdrop of allegation by River State Governor Nyesom Nwike that his oil producing states colleagues squandered the funds, the state government through the commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said that the fund was not spent secretly as it was properly appropriated in the state budget.
She said: “Every Kobo of that money got was appropriated. He (the Governor) went back to the House of Assembly and appropriated everything into our budget. Anyone interested to verify this can use the instrument of information to find out,”
The commissioner added: “All the Infrastructural development you are seeing today, the roads, the hospitals under construction, are from this money.”
However, she clarified that Ondo State got 19.4 billion but not 90 billion naira, saying: “I would like to put it on record that our Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, did not owe any salary. He met backlog of salary which he had paid and all these were from the derivation paid to the state.”
A statement by Mr Augustine Adeoye, Press Officer, Ministry of Information and Orientation, said she spoke on Sunday while representing the Governor who was the Chief Host at the Oil Africa Leadership Awards and Launching of Oil Africa Magazine International, held in Akure, the state capital.
Government, she said, has cleared the salaries backlog it inherited from the past administration adding that all will be cleared on or before January.
Also, she explained that arrangemmets have been concluded for the payment of outstanding two months salaries.
She described the government of the State under Akeredolu’s leadership, as the administration of construction, reconstruction, innovation and redemption.
The number one image maker of the state government stated that, the governor has spent the oil revenue and 13 percent oil derivation, accrued to the state, judiciously.
On environmental issues, Ademola-Olateju also stressed that the present administration takes the issue of environmental degradation seriously. She said productive steps are being taken to address the issue of Sea incursion in Ayetoro community in the southern part of the state.
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Her words: “I understand the degradation, the environmental destruction of the ecosystem of oil producing communities. This has been subsisting for long. Yyou will recall, this is cause that Ken Saro Wiwa died for. It did not start today but we are committed to solving ours.
“The issue of Ayetoro, is on the front burner, we are in talks with the European Union. When I was at the United Nations General Assembly in September, I spoke on the devastation wrought by climate change, with Ayetoro as target. I asked for help for Ondo state and we are going to get it.”
She said it is on record that the country has been producing about 16 million barrel per day since five years ago, shortfall due to oil theft, reducing income therefrom. Ondo State has been spending its share prudently.
Describing the present administration as accountable, transparent and following due process, she said: “I do not know about the past but I know about the present, that everyone in this government is wholeheartedly committed to using public fund for public goods.
“I, as a commissioner, I do not know how it is easy or possible to steal money. My approval limit is 999.999 thousand naira and Mr Governor’s approval limit is 20 million naira.
“On contracts, there is benchmark price for every procurement from from the Bureau of Public Procurement. Mr. Governor cannot approve contracts exceeding his limit without bringing the contract to the Executive Council.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of McPherson University and Guest Lecturer at the event, Prof. Francis Igbasan, decried the increased poverty level in the country, the situation he attributed to corruption and insensitivity of government to the needs of the people.
He said government has not judiciously spent oil revenue and the people of the area are the great victims of the harsh economy and negative effects of crude oil exploration.
He lamented overdependence on oil saying it has led to the neglect of exploration of mineral resources and encouragement of farming, that are capable of turning around the Fortune of the country.
He said Nigerian Governors were not accountable and transparent enough while oil derivation fund given to them were misappropriated as oil spillage, unemployment, kidnapping, poor road networks, poverty, hunger among others persists in the land.
In his welcome address, the publisher of the magazine and coordinator of the award, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo ,said the annual event provided an opportunity for interaction and discussion about global solution for development.
He congratulated the awardees who he described as men of honour, who have distinguished themselves in their fields, adding that with the award they are inducted into oil marketing hall of fame and have become ambassadors.
Also, the Chairman of the occasion and a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, congratulated the awardees for the milestone achievements and urged them to see the honours as a call for more accomplishments, encouraging others to step up their game in order to be counted worthy as recipients of the honour in the nearest future.
Those awarded with various honours were Oba Michal Ajijo, the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro Community and Spiritual Majesty of Holy Apostle Church, Aiyetoro; Oba Adeleke Adedoyi II, the Owa Ale of Ikare Akoko; CP Oyediran Owoyemi, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police; Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, House Committee on NDDC and Olorogun Eddy Olafeso PhD.
Others included, Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu; Hon. Barr. Abayomi Sheba; Dr Betta C Edu; Prince Jacob Momoh, GMD Jamub group; Dr Pastor Oluwadare Aina, CEO, Real Damos Oil & Gas and Aare Oluwarotimi Abiodun.
