– PDP links exit to alleged secret release of N16.67b by APC-led FG to rig the September 22 election
– Kolawole quit statutorily after clocking mandatory retirement age of 60 – State Government
The exit of the Accountant General of Osun State, Mr. Alaba Kolawole, from the state civil service has sparked controversies and allegation of fraud against the state government.
There are claims that the Accountant General, who celebrated his 60th birthday in July, was granted an extension of service by the governor until October; but Kolawole reportedly tendered his resignation on Friday.
He was said to have written letters to some commercial banks that they should no longer honour any cheque bearing his signature starting from Monday, September 10.
But the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has linked Kolawole’s alleged sudden resignation to the alleged secret release of N16.67 billion election fund to Osun State by the All Progressives Congress-controlled Federal Government.
State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Soji Adagunodo, who said this in a statement, also called on anti-corruption agencies to investigate the development.
Adagunodo added that the issue also confirmed the several concerns raised by the PDP about the manner in which Governor Rauf Aregbesola had been handling the finances of the state in the last eight years.
The PDP also berated the Federal Government for allegedly secretly funding the APC election activities through a selective disbursement of Paris Club refund to Osun State.
The statement read: “The sudden and controversial resignation of the Accountant General of Osun State, Mr Alaba Kolawole, is linked to the secret disbursement of a sum of N16.67bn election funds to the state by the Federal Government.
“We also have it on good authority that top officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General have raised concerns about the manner in which Governor Aregbesola is applying another N13bn recently refunded to Osun State for federal roads purportedly rehabilitated by the state.”
The opposition party expressed surprise at why the governor had not paid arrears of workers’ 34 months salaries and pensions.
However, the state government dismissed all the allegations and clarified that Kolawole quit service statutorily.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, told Punch that the accountant general did not resign but that he retired on clocking the mandatory age of 60.
The commissioner later issued a statement on Kolawole’s retirement saying that Aregbesola had accepted the resignation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The statement read: “The Accountant General of the State of Osun, Mr. Alaba Kolawole, has retired from the service.
“Mr. Kolawole retired from service, having gotten to the threshold age of 60 years a few weeks back, in line with the civil service rules and practice.
“He had served the state meritoriously in various capacities since he joined the service some decades ago and he was appointed the Accountant General of the state by Governor Rauf Aregbesola in 2012 when he reached the pinnacle of his career.
“Mr. Kolawole was known to be diligent and hard-working in his duties while in office and the service will miss him and his contributions.”
Punch
