Osun: Gov Adeleke denies borrowing 10bn for state projects

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has debunked viral reports alleging that his administration has so far borrowed N10 billion from foreign bodies.

A report earlier emerged that the governor reportedly secured the sum of N10,022,382,348.40 billion in loans from different foreign bodies and organizations in 2023.

Reacting, Governor Adeleke in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed countered the report, saying he has not borrowed a kobo since his administration kicked off.

Describing the report as fake, the governor stated that he has not at any point since he assumed office, “taken any loan either through a resolution of the State Executive Council or that of the State House of Assembly”.

He explained that what the report referred to as loans, were World Bank Development financing which, according to him, were inherited from the previous administrations.

The governor insisted that all the projects executed in the state including the dualisation of roads, the overhead bridges, the school, health centre upgrades and several road projects were being funded through special project accounts created by the state government.

“No responsible government will abandon a series of World Bank projects which are already household names across the Federation and which have benefited so many residents.

“We reaffirm again that Governor Adeleke has not borrowed a kobo since assuming office. Inherited liabilities and contracts cannot be tagged on the Governor of the Year on Infrastructure”, the statement added.