By Jamiu Ganiyu
The Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola has directed the cancellation of the proposed ten days official foreign trip by local government chairmen to attend a workshop in Dubai over amidst protest by members of the public, who were accusing the government of financial recklessness at a time the state is finding it difficult to meet up with her financial obligations to the state workers.
The notice of cancellation of the proposed trip was released via a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Adesina Adesina, which was released to newsmen on Monday morning without any reason whatsoever.
The statement by Mr. Adesina said, “The governor said although it is desirable to continue to expose government officials to capacity building, the time is not auspicious for this trip, which was approved in September 2018.
“The governor assures public officers in the state that they will continue to be given the benefit of training at the appropriate time as the financial situation of the state permits”.
From all indications, it is obvious that the government decided to jettison the planned foreign trip because of the various reactions and public condemnation the issue has attracted in the last 24hours.
Earlier on Sunday, the ALGON Chairman in the State, Hon. Abiodun Idowu has exonerated the government from the blame saying the proposed trip was long overdue and has already been scheduled since two years ago but because of one reason or the other, they could not embark on the training all these while.
According to the ALGON Chairman release, “Rauf Aregbesola’s administration saw the urgent need to strengthen and engender development at the grassroots by creating 68 Local Councils in the state over two years ago. As a result of the unique parliamentary system adopted by the Councils, the administration saw the need to sponsor the Chairmen of a 10-day Training in Dubai. The funds for the Training have been approved to be facilitated by a well-known logistics firm, ETCETERA INTERACTIONS LIMITED which entered into an agreement with the State Government some months ago. Unfortunately, due to other pressing State Matters, the Trip was postponed”.
“We, therefore, remained dismayed by the orchestrated falsehoods by these agents of darkness and lawlessness to paint the picture of gloom that the Trip was recently approved by Governor Gboyega Oyetola when it is, in fact, to public knowledge that it is not. Can they be decent enough to take politics away from the gutters please? Although, we are comfortably numb to the opposition: its cons, its lies, lest we forget, its failure to install illiterate as Governor, state of Osun”