Politics
Details: Dapo Abiodun’s Aides Shield Amosun From Investigation Into N27.3Billlion Model Schools Rotting Away
Labule Thomas
Aides of the Governor of Ogun State Dapo Abiodun appear to be shielding former Governor Ibikunle Amosun from an investigation into N27.3Billion models that he built – but are rotting away, except for two the new administration has converted to other uses.
The aides of Governor Abiodun refused to provide information on the projects that gulped a chunk of the state’s resources societynow.ng gathered.
A report monitored on premiumtimesng.com by societynow.ng regarding an investigation into the current state of the N27.3Billion projects stated ‘’This newspaper tried to get the exact amount officially budgeted and spent on the project but was rebuffed by officials of the current administration in the state. Ade Akinsanya, Ogun State’s commissioner for works, declined to say the amount spent on the project. He also refused to reveal the name of the contractors who built the schools. Mr Akinsaya said the project was not handled by his ministry.’’
Governor Abiodun’s Commissioner for work, Akinsanya reported told Premiumtimesng.com “You know the right channel to get that information,” and ‘’hung up’’.
Premiumtimesng.com stated further that ‘’Requests for information about the project sent to the state’s Ministries of Finance and Budget yielded no response.’’
Interestingly, the investigation by the news platform was meant – and has done – more good to the Dapo Abiodun’s administration than Amosun’s.
‘’I just can’t fathom why people working for Dapo Abiodun, especially a commissioner serving in his government would withhold information that helps his administration in such a controversial issue like the abandoned model schools built by Amosun except there is something to hide’’ Societynow.ng learned.
Premiumtimesng.com’s investigators were, however, able to secure the value of the projects based on revelations by Segun Odubela, the Commissioner for Education in the administration of Governor Amosun.
The news spotter’s findings were published in a portion of the story that reads ‘’However, the May 2012 edition of a monthly magazine published by the state’s Ministry of Information, Ogun Update, claimed that it cost the government N750 million to build each of the schools.
The then Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, who made the claim added that additional N300 million was earmarked for equipment and furniture in each school.
“Each school comes to a total of N1.05 billion. The 26 schools would be a total of N27.3 billion,” Mr Odubela said.’’
Tragically, except the one being used as an Isolation Centre and another as ‘’Tech Hub’’ – he base of the Bureau of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – the remaining model schools which saw the Amosun administration demolish houses, disrupted lives and expend a vast of the state’s resources have been abandoned and rotting away.
Here is the link to the full report by Premiumetimesng.com
