By Mason Crux
we read with consternation the above concoction by one Prince Adebayo Adeleke, who, in his desperate struggle for appointment leveled libelous and seditious allegations against Adeleke on a recent radio interview. His radio interview, which should earn the station strong sanctions from the National Broadcasting Commission, was laced with barefaced lies, misinformation, and misrepresentation about Osun governance issues.
Let's even ask what qualified Banik to raise state issues when he is yet to account for the state fund he collected on an abandoned road project? How can a man who owned up collecting huge funds for an abandoned project discussed public finance? A former roadside photographer at Alekuwodo with his baggage of negative records while in government is morally and intellectually deficient to brainstorm on Osun governance .
For a responsible discussion, it is important for Banik to return the public fund he collected without executing the job. All the facts of the contract are in the public domain. In a sane clime, the former commissioner should be in jail as punishment for an admitted role in a deal that rubbed the state of a huge sum of money.
Before we go into other issues raised in the above article, we may also remind Banik that when Mr Ibukun Fadipe was a council chairman, he (Banik) was a hanger ons with only a roadside photo business. Mr Fadipe was not only then an accomplished politician, but Banik was one of those who used to line up in front of the IBK office for stipends and help. Banik is a mere rabble rouser with questionable political credentials. IBK towers far and above Banik and is more than qualified to respond to fake news desperately being promoted by the failed former commissioner.
The last note before we go into the governance issues - Banik is already screened out of any federal appointment because of his self admission to collecting funds without executing the job. We can tell him that no level of attacks on the Adeleke family will change the security reports on him as a tainted former public official.
Banik preyed on compromised anchoring and shamelessly lied about an Adeleke government that has been locally, nationally, and internationally acknowledged as delivering on good governance. His first salvo was to challenge the state government on its claims of blocking leakages. He misfired and turned logic upside down.
On allegation of state losing revenue, it has been officially cleared that the significant fall in the personal and direct taxes of the state which dipped from N14.6bn in 2022 to N11.2bn in 2023 was due to non- remittance of pay as you earn tax from federal establishments in Osun state. It takes at times two to three years before the federal government remit such taxes to the state. Because of low capacity, Banik is exposing a federal government from which he is seeking a lifeline appointment.
On a shortfall in some revenue subheads, the Osun government embarked on branch and root reform of the state economy starting from late 2022, a step that disrupted many sectors for a few months but rejuvenated them for accelerated growth in the following months and year. The good news is that overall, Internally Generated Revenue increased while subheading with low returns have since catched up and even surpassed the 2022 records.
Banik and those spoon feeding him before appearing on radio ridiculously attributed IGR growth to high school fees in tertiary institutions. What is the percentage of such fees in the IGR?. Quite infinitesimal. Contrary to the untutored reasoning of that rabble rouser, the growth of the IGR was a function of blockage of leakages in state revenue, financial system and revitalisation of strategic segments of the state economy such as mining, agriculture, commerce and transportation. It also flows from the automation and digitization of the revenue collection systems through a single tax billing system.
On the alleged discrepancy in the state financial report, the opposition may want to be schooled that an audited report is the authoritative document of the public finance system. An audited report arises from reconciliation of accounts across the system. Hence, it is delusional to claim any missing N12.1 billion. Banik should peruse the audited report to see the reconciliation of accounts, which finally set the records straight.
On alleged missing N550m park management revenue, this is another opposition induced propaganda using a compromised official within the system. A detailed check had since shown that the sum of N600m being bandied around was a projection of revenue estimates that were never met due to several inadequacies and the then reduced capacity of the motor park system.
It is a despicable lie without an iota of truth that N550 Million due to the state government was diverted for personal benefit of the governor and his elder sister, Mrs Dupe Adeleke-Sanni There was no missing N550 million as it was only a ticket estimation. Hence, no money could have been diverted to the governor and her sister as libelously claimed.
The public should note that Banik on a radio repeated a libelous, unfounded allegation for which he has no documentary proof or evidence. He defamed a state governor and a respectable woman of virtue for political reasons. Unfortunately, the station refused to cut him off air despite that open and clear violation of the broadcasting code.
In another reprehensible show of shame, the piece above raised the issue of new tractors, asking for funny details. We answer that query by asking the APC to wait for the unveiling event, which is coming up shortly. The state government should please extend an invitation to the failed opposition that for 12 years did not purchase a single tractor for Osun state. They should come and see how a governor can be responsive, clearing the inherited half salaries and pensions, completing abandoned projects, paying inherited, deducted cooperative funds, and now buying new tractors for the farmers of Osun
The piece that seeks to justify Banik condemnable rankings on the radio raised the issue of a phantom N800m for health insurance. This is a lie. No such fund enters Osun state. As to a hospital withdrawing from a programme, it is a voluntary system, and the state can not condone preferential treatment in the administration of the health insurance scheme. The Osun health insurance scheme remains one of the best in the country.
On alleged poor management of health and primary health care centres, the opposition is invited to cover its head in shame going by the brilliant records of the current government in rehabilitation of hundreds of primary health care centres. Opposition figures will soon be answering questions on how the Oyetola administration looted the $20 million grant meant for the upgrade of Osun Primary Health Care Centers.
We need to state at this point that opposition activism does not extend to breaching of laws, especially in this case federal laws such as the Cybercrime Act and the various laws of libel and sedition among others. It is also true that the opposition is free to criticize government and government leaders, but that freedom creates red lines.
There is no immunity for Banik and others in their deliberate concoctions of fake news to defame and assassinate characters of officials and citizens. The law must, therefore, be enforced.
● Government Media Center, Osogbo.
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