Used Vehicles: Oyetola Acted Within Law, Convention, Says Aide

Amid controversy trailing the carting away of government vehicles by officials that served the state in the past administration Osun State, the media aide to the immediate past governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan, has said his principal, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, approved the release of vehicles to public officials who served in his administration in accordance with the law and convention.

He said there is a law duly passed by the Osun State House of Assembly, adding that the former governor’s action on the access to the used vehicles by him, his deputy and other public officials were guided by the existing law.

He  said contrary to the claim by the state government, Oyetola is not in possession of 11 vehicles, insisting that the used vehicles he left with were not only properly documented but were done in line with the extant law and best practices.

 Omipidan said like his previous statements, the Osun governor’s spokesperson’s release on the alleged carting away of government vehicles was full of lies and misinformation, deliberately put together to malign the person and character of his principal.

He wondered how he came about the value of N2.9 billion as total worth of the used vehicles, insisting that the amount is unrealistic, misleading and false, therefore, it cannot represent the true value of the used vehicles. Besides, several of the vehicles they alleged were carted away are still in the possession of the State Government as at today.

But the state government declared that there is no law in Osun state which empowers a Governor or his appointees to bolt away with government vehicles, challenging ex-governor Oyetola’s team to cite the name and date of enactment of the supposed fake law.

Reacting to questions from journalists at Osogbo, the spokesperson to the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said “What the law provides is possibility of auctioning of public properties if need arises for such, submitting that such an exercise must past through due process with application of auctioning regulations and procedures.’’