Governor Adeleke denies APC’s claims of secret loans, asserting no foreign debts were acquired. Osun State calls for transparency amid criticism.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has strongly denied allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his administration secretly acquired foreign loans, dismissing the claims as baseless and unfounded.
The allegations were made by the APC during an end-of-year press conference held in Osogbo on Monday.
The party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, accused the state government of securing foreign loans amounting to $51 million (approximately ₦81.6 billion, at an exchange rate of ₦1,600 to $1).
Olabisi alleged that the funds were tied to the NG-CARES programme and were being used to finance part of the 2024 state budget.
He warned that the current administration was jeopardising the financial stability of Osun State, urging citizens to demand accountability from Governor Adeleke.
“The Adeleke administration is creating a façade of not acquiring loans, but the evidence points to a different reality. This financial recklessness is mortgaging the state’s future,” Olabisi stated.
In a swift rebuttal, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, categorically denied the accusations, labelling them as “fake news” propagated by the opposition.
“As a member of the executive council from the onset, I can affirm that no loan approval request has been made for any project. This is a false narrative the APC continues to push,” Rasheed declared.
He further emphasised that Osun State’s citizens are well-informed and would recognise any borrowing undertaken by the government.
The APC’s allegations come amid calls for greater financial transparency in Osun State. The party insisted that disclosing the state’s financial records is vital to ensuring accountability, particularly for the welfare of its citizens.
Governor Adeleke’s administration has repeatedly claimed a commitment to fiscal responsibility, but the opposition has challenged this narrative, asserting that the state’s resources are being mismanaged.
The dispute highlights the ongoing political rivalry in Osun State, with both parties vying to control the public discourse on governance and financial accountability.
As the debate intensifies, citizens and stakeholders await further clarification on the state’s financial activities and the administration’s approach to addressing these claims.
