PDP Accuses Aregbesola of Lying, Understating Osun's Debt Burden

 The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has raised fresh posers for Governor Rauf Aregbesola regarding the debt portfolio of the state.

The party in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo through its Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said the Governor in a space of two weeks had contradicted himself concerning the debt profile and amount his administration is owing all sectors.



"What the governor needs to understand is that ruling the state by telling lies will not help the him but further expose him as a man bereft of solutions to the present economic woes"

Making specific reference in reaction to the statement credited to Aregbesola during the inauguration of the Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday, June 3, as reported on page 6 of Nigeria Tribune newspapers, in an attempt to absolve himself of blame over the non payment of salaries and pensions, Ogbeni Aregbesola put the debt profile of the state from loans at N75 billion.

Ogbeni Aregbesola also told his audience that arrears of 2014 workers' salaries was N13 billion while he admitted that 2015 salary arrears was N16 billion, all totaling N104 billon.

However, less than two weeks after, Aregbesola, in his reaction through his media aide, while reacting to the claims by Senator Iyiola Omisore, who had put the debt portfolio of Osun at N480 billion, said the state is owing only N44 billion.

"It will take several lies and cover ups to cover a lie whereas truth is constant. Again, we implore Ogbeni Aregbesola to say the truth about the debt portfolio so as to come up with ideas on the way out" PDP declared.

"We as a responsible party stand by what Senator Omisore said, that "the principal debt of Osun State under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is N480 billion as he took N300 billion loan for the 30 local government areas after raising N60 billion bond and later another N40 billion apart from all other loans for O'meal project, O' school uniform project. O' airport project" O campaign project and others"

If Aregbesola is not lying, why did he give two figures as Osun's debt within two weeks? Odeyemi queried.

"Only God knows the figure he will give next time the question is raised. We implore him to stop his extravagant spendings and desist from deceiving Osun people and show some remorse for putting the state in this "quagmire" using his word"