Ahead of the Osun Gubernatorial Election,a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has denied claims by Governor Ademola Adeleke that he gave him a vehicle, describing the allegation as “far from the truth”.
Oyinlola said the vehicles were provided to him by the Osun State Government as part of his entitlements under a law enacted by the state’s House of Assembly.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, following his decision to withdraw his support for Adeleke’s re-election bid and endorse the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. the former governor said,
“That is far from the truth. It’s a sad development that the governor will continue to tell lies.
“The Osun State House of Assembly enacted the law whereby approval [is given] to whoever has governed the state. One of the things that you approve for a former governor is that for every four years, his vehicle should be changed,” the ex-governor said.
Oyinlola argued that though he had been out of government for 16 years, he was still entitled to three more vehicles under the provision.
“I have been out of the Osun State Government in the last 16 years. If you aggregate it, it means the state is still having to give out three vehicles. It wasn’t Ademola that gave me the vehicle; it was the Osun State Government. It is a law of the state enacted by the House of Assembly,”the former governor stated
He also said other benefits provided for former governors under the law included security personnel, a cook and drivers.
Oyinlola denied the suggestion that he had approached Adeleke to ask for a vehicle, saying” that is sad development”
“I did not walk to his place when he said I was begging for a vehicle. By the grace of God, I had started buying cars since I was 21. When I was going to the Government House, I went with my entire convoy.
“So, how will he paint it as if I went to beg? That is a sad development. He should say it the way it is in the law. It is my entitlement, and he still owes me three more vehicles,” the former governor said.
Oyinlola’s clarification followed Adeleke’s criticism of him that he announced his decision to support the All Progressives Congress candidate Oyebamiji, despite having previously backed Adeleke’s re-election.
Adeleke who spoke at a town hall event on Tuesday, accused Oyinlola of repeatedly opposing his political ambitions, including during his 2007 Senate bid and the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections.
Adeleke said Oyinlola later approached him for reconciliation after he won the election, which he accepted because of his “forgiving spirit”.
The governor also claimed that Oyinlola complained about not having a vehicle, prompting him to provide one. Adeleke subsequently dismissed Oyinlola’s political influence, describing him as a “paperweight” and insisting that his decision would not affect the outcome of Saturday’s election.
