Former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has denied Governor Ademola Adeleke’s claim that he requested and received a new vehicle before endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 election.
Oyinlola described Adeleke’s allegation as untrue, saying the vehicle he received was provided by the Osun State Government in accordance with a law governing the benefits of former governors.
He spoke in an interview with Channels Television while responding to Adeleke’s claim that he gave him a car.
“That is far from the truth and it is a bad development that a governor will continue to tell lies,” Oyinlola said.
According to the former governor, the Osun State House of Assembly enacted legislation prescribing certain benefits for former governors, including the replacement of their official vehicles every four years.
He said the vehicle was therefore not a personal gift from Adeleke, but an entitlement provided under state law.
“It wasn’t Ademola that gave me vehicle. It was the Osun State Government, it is a law of the state enacted by the House of Assembly,” he said.
Oyinlola, who left office 16 years ago, argued that he was entitled to vehicles that should have been replaced during the period since he left office.
“I’ve been out of Osun State government since the last 16 years. If you aggregate it, it means the state is still having to give up three vehicles,” he said.
He also explained that the legislation provides other benefits for former governors, including security and domestic staff.
“There are other things, like my security should be taken care of. The police should be paid for, the cook should be taken care of and the drivers. Those are the requisite of that enactment,” Oyinlola said.
The former governor’s response comes amid heightened political activity in Osun ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, in which Adeleke is seeking re-election while Oyebamiji is the APC candidate.
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