Aide planning to sell govt assets due to Akeredolu’s ill-health, Ondo Senator alleges
By Nathaniel Zacchaeus in Abuja
The Senator representing Ondo Central, Ayo Akinyelure, has alleged that some aides of the Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, were planning to sell government assets estimated at billions of naira, capitalising on his failing health.
Akinyelure particularly alleged that the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture, Pastor Akinoola Olootu was conniving with some people to illegally sell off the Ondo State Chocolate Factory, which is worth between N9bn and N15bn, at a giveaway sum of N10m.
The Senator had earlier made the allegation on the floor of the Senate through a motion on Tuesday before he repeated it at a news conference in his office yesterday.
He argued that it was important for him to stop “such mischievous adventure with his position as a lawmaker that was democratically elected to represent the people of Ondo State.
He explained that the Olusegun Mimiko administration started the chocolate factory project at Idanre-Ondo town to provide jobs for the people and utilise the mass production of cocoa in the area.
He added that Akeredolu bought the idea until he was allegedly misled by his assistant to withdraw his support, “so that they can sell the multi-million dollar project at a giveaway price to themselves.”
Akinyelure said, “The Ondo State Government under the immediate past administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, established the Coca Processing Factory as part of his state-wide industrialisation drive.
The Senator also alleged that some people in the State government under a sinister motive had concluded a plan to put the Company for sale cheaply for as low as N10m to cronies without following the due process of competitive bidding in line with the Public Enterprises (Privatization and Commercialization) Act, 1999.
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He said, “Some cronies of the Government of Ondo State including the Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture had concluded an arrangement to sell the same factory at a giveaway price at the detriment of people of Ondo State and Idanre Local Government in particular.
“He is making the plans without following due process in line with provisions of the Public Enterprise (Privatisation & Commercialisation) Act, 1999 which has generated public outcry to stop the Government from selling the property of Ondo State meant to generate employment for the good people of the state now and in future.
“These people are taking advantage of the ill health of the governor to sell state-owned properties to themselves. By God’s grace, the governor will get better.”
He urged the Speaker of Ondo state, Honourable Bamidele Oleyelogun to ensure that the people should not illegally sell the state’s property cheaply.
