The Osun State Government has described allegations that severance packages of some ousted political office holders at the local government level have been withheld because of their loyalty to former Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as lies deliberately concocted to mislead the public.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, while reacting to the allegation stated that while it is true that some political office holders had their severance package withheld, it was due to the fact that they have not got their clearance from the Ministry rather than their loyalty to Ogbeni Aregbesola as being insinuated
“It is correct that the severance packages of some political office holders in councils were withheld. This was done for them to get clearance from the Ministry of Local Government because there are issues they need to clarify on their spendings and other matters when they were serving.
“Such issues vary from council to council and we don’t think that should generate controversy, because some have shown up and they have been cleared while some were asked to wait until the allegations against them are proven to either be correct or wrong.
“We believe those who do not have anything to fear or hide should be bold enough to show up and state their cases, rather than attaching political meaning to it.
“So, it has nothing to do with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola or Governor Gboyega Oyetola, it is purely the policies that we have set out in the ministry that must be complied with.
“Attaching it to Aregbesola’s loyalists is deceptive, mischevious and was only meant to score cheap political point and gain undue sympathy,” Prince Adeleke said via a statement he issued on the matter on Wednesday, 23 June, 2021.
