Ademola Adeleke, the newly inaugurated Governor of Osun State, has frozen all government accounts in the state.
Adeleke issued this directive in his first executive order following his inauguration on Sunday.
Adeleke claimed in his inauguration speech that the former governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, committed “maliciously” after he (Adeleke) won the July 16 governorship election, including “hurried” employments with no provisions to sustain them.
He claimed that these actions were aimed at making things difficult in his administration.
Adeleke also changed the state name from ‘State of Osun’ to ‘Osun State,’ claiming that the former was unconstitutional.
“My Good People of Osun, since you elected me as your governor on July 16, 2022, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on July 17, 2022, the former Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, has maliciously started putting roadblocks in the way of the new administration serving you.”
“Mass hiring was carried out without budgetary provisions for new employee salary payments, even when the state was struggling to pay salaries and provide other services.” Several contracts were awarded in a hurried and criminally backdated manner, with no budgetary provisions.
“Appointments of several Obas were hurriedly made without due process, to name a few.”
“All efforts to persuade the governor to form a Transition Committee and submit hand-over notes in accordance with best practices were futile.”
“It is thus my desire to ask for your patience and understanding in allowing my administration a few weeks to review and sort out all of the actions and malicious confusions that the immediate preceding administration has created since July 17, 2022.” “Those were indeed vindictive actions against the people of Osun State for voting them out of office,” Adeleke said.
He issued new orders, saying, “As a result, I hereby issue the following directives, which will be backed up by appropriate Executive orders:
“All government accounts in banks and other financial institutions must be frozen immediately.”
“Immediate formation of a panel to conduct an inventory and recover all government assets.”
“The immediate formation of a panel to review all appointments and major decisions made by the immediate preceding administration after July 17, 2022.”
“An immediate return to our state’s constitutionally recognized name, ‘Osun State.'” All government insignia, correspondence, and signage should now reflect Osun State rather than the State of Osun, which the Nigerian constitution does not recognize.”
Adeleke also stated in his speech that he would right the wrongs of previous administrations.
