Re: Oyo Govt debunks false claim on #683m vehicle procurement – Govt explanations raises fresh questions | By Sola Abegunde

Re: Oyo Govt debunks false claim on #683m vehicle procurement – Govt explanations raises fresh questions.

I have carefully read the response of the Oyo state Government to the allegations by Sahara Reporters regarding the alleged purchase of some vehicles for the sum of 683.7m Naira.

I do not have issues with the number of vehicles purchased by the Government of Oyo state and neither do I have issues with the prices attached to the vehicles by Governor Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

However, Oyo state Government’s statement raises further questions, which, indeed appears damning than what they are trying to defend.

The Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde clarified that the figure of 683.7 million Naira is not a vehicle procurement cost.

Let me quote him, ” the 683.7 million Naira figure is not a vehicle procurement cost. The amount appears under the budget line titled” Advertisement and Publicity Awareness for the Public “.

” This is a program-level expenditure covering multiple activities and components. The vehicles mentioned in the report were merely part of the program’s logistics not stand-alone purchase valued at 683m”.

” The audited statement lists : Toyota Coaster ( 30 seater, 2015): 140m. Toyota Hiace Hummer Bus ( 2021): 156.95m, Toyota Corolla ( 2019/2020): 28.98m and 50.71m”.

Now, I do have a very big problem with this explanation.

According to the Oyo state Government, the sum of 683.7m in question covers the procurement of some vehicles which were itemized and those vehicles, purchased at roughly, over 300m, according to Government, were purchased for a particular program, titled, ” Advertisement and Publicity Awareness for the Public “.

Mr. Olanrewaju did not provide information about the particulars of the program in focus. He just said, ” Advertisement and Publicity Awareness for the Public “.

You will note that over 300m is yet to be accounted for in the statement released by Government.

While Government provided a breakdown of the vehicles procured and the amount, it provided no clear information on the ” multiple activities and components” of the program referred to in the statement.

What is being Advertised and publicized by Government to have warranted the procurement of those number of vehicles?

Where are the vehicles and which office of Government are they attached to?

Where is the breakdown of the Advertisement and Publicity activities that consumed the rest of the money in question?

I am saying this, because, very recently, Governor Seyi Makinde has been hosting a lot political programs which were aired live by a host of Radio and Television stations. I hope these are not the ” Advertisement and Publicity” Olanrewaju is talking about?

Government has come clean about the procurement of the vehicles.

What is left is the other component of the program that consumed 683.7 million Naira.

What did Oyo state Government Advertised? What was publicized with over 300m?

You can not just come out and address the matter halfway. What happened with the rest of the money?

Secondly, the information about the particular office which the vehicles are attached to, is very critical for record purposes.

When you have not gotten rid of the mice in your clothes, you will always have blood stains on your fingernails.

We expect a complete information about the 683.7m Naira purportedly spent on ” Advertisement and Publicity Awareness”.

Sola Abegunde.