A former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has accused the senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, of allegedly diverting funds meant for a government project to a different initiative.
Amosun, in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Lanre Akinwale, raised concerns over a library project facilitated by Adeola in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He claimed that the project board erected at the library site bore the inscription ‘Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State,’ a project originally initiated and self-funded by Amosun.
The former governor argued that the labeling of the library project suggested that federal funds earmarked for the renovation of the Ake Pavilion were being diverted elsewhere.
“What this simply connotes is that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project. Otherwise, how could the facilitator of the library project inscribe a narration entirely different from what he facilitated?” Amosun queried.
Clarifying the ownership of the Ake Pavilion project, Amosun emphasized that the initiative was conceptualized and personally financed by him during his tenure as governor in 2019.
According to him, the pavilion, which is 95 percent completed, includes a 3,000-capacity amphitheater, banquet halls, a museum, administrative blocks, and other facilities, all aimed at boosting tourism in the state.
“While Senator Amosun welcomes the facilitation of Federal Government-funded projects to Ogun State, it is essential to ensure that such projects are done with sincerity and without misrepresenting facts.
“We advise Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to provide accurate information to the people of Ogun State, especially Abeokuta, regarding the library project he facilitated to Ewang Estate Extension,” the statement read
However, in a swift reaction, Senator Adeola, through his spokesperson, Kayode Odunaro, dismissed Amosun’s allegations, insisting that no diversion of funds had taken place.
Odunaro explained that the inscription on the project signpost was in line with budgetary classifications, noting that the term ‘Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and Other Facilities, Ogun State’ could cover various projects across the state.
“For those not conversant with budgetary terminologies, the wordings ‘and other facilities, Ogun State’ show that the project was not confined to Ake Pavilion alone.
Indeed, it could include construction of roads, schools, libraries, etc., in Ogun State, as determined by the implementing agency and facilitator of the project in the budget,” Odunaro stated.
He acknowledged that there was indeed a budget allocation for the renovation of Ake Pavilion following appeals from concerned stakeholders in Ogun State.
He said Adeola was unaware that the project was privately funded by Amosun.
“There was indeed a budget inclusion for the renovation of Ake Pavilion following appeals to Senator Adeola from well-meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that was seemingly abandoned for a period.
“What was not made known to Senator Adeola at the point of appeals was the fact that this was a personal project of Senator Amosun,” he clarified.
Odunaro further noted that once Adeola became aware of Amosun’s personal funding of the project, he opted to redirect the allocated funds toward the construction of a library in Ewang Estate Extension in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
“Finally, there is nothing untoward in the inscription at the library, as that is what is contained in the ministry’s budget that was used to fund the project. It would have been otherwise if the signpost had been placed at the Ake Pavilion under construction by Senator Amosun,” Odunaro concluded.
The controversy surrounding the alleged project fund diversion has sparked debates within Ogun State’s political circles, with residents and stakeholders keenly observing further developments.
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