The Osun State Government has once again dismissed opposition claims that Governor Ademola Adeleke is collecting security votes.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, emphasized that the Governor has not, and will not, collect security votes in line with his commitment upon assuming office.
The Commissioner explained that the opposition is spreading misinformation due to a lack of valid criticism against the Governor’s exemplary performance.
He clarified that state funds used to support security operations and services are accounted for and processed through formal channels, differentiating these expenditures from the discretionary nature of security votes.
“The state government statutorily supports security agencies when they conduct security operations on a regular basis such as quelling communal violence, joint security operations in troubled spots as well as deployment during mass demonstrations.
“Such expenditures are formally accounted for in line with the due approval process. The state support in such situations are referred to as expenditure for security services as different from the concept of security vote which does not pass through formal due approval process.
“The opposition needs to be educated that there are differences between security votes and security services. Security votes are widely known as slush funds expended at the discretion of the Chief Executive without passing through formal accountability and due processes.
“In Osun state, Governor Adeleke is not, has not and will not take such security votes. Mr Governor is however committed to supporting the security agencies with their logistics needs under security services expenditure which are fully applied for and processed through the office of Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters.
The present administration in Osun State therefore wishes to state, emphatically that, Governor Adeleke approves funds to address security issues only when occasion demands for such and there are always record to justify such expenditure as opposed to being latched on as a free money to be expended at will by any sitting Governor as was the tradition with the past administration.
It must be stated that in his almost two years old administration, Mr Governor’s probity and accountability is remarkably unbeatable in the history of Osun State and by extension, in the Nigerian federation.
While the present administration wishes to state for the umpteenth time, that it is not averse to being criticized constructively when the need arises by the right and unbiased free minded members of the public, it is however, incongruent for a person or group of persons to throw cautions to the wind in going about it as exemplified by some opposition operatives.
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