Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to explain how he expended a total of N172 billion loans, obtained by administration, which is due for repayment between the year 2034 and year 2042.

This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the party in the state, Hon Soji Adagunodo, which was forwarded to Saturday Tribune in Osogbo on Friday.

According to the statement, “details of the loans are N88 billion commercial loans, restructured by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and due for repayment in 2034, bailout funds totalling N35 billion to be repaid in 2035 and N49 billion from Islamic Development Bank, due for repayment in 2042”.

It reads “the party also ask the governor to explain why the three major road projects which he has often boasted have not progressed beyond 30 per cent five years after the contracts were awarded in secret and contract sum fully paid in most cases. The projects are Osogbo-Ikirun-Ila-Odo road awarded in 2012 and expected to be completed in 12 months, Gbongan-Akoda road awarded in April, 2013 and 18 kilometres Osogbo-East bye pass awarded over five years ago”.

However, while recalling that Aregbesola had claimed in late 2011 that “Osun travellers would no longer have to go through the rigours of Iwo-Road roundabout, Ibadan whenever they were heading to Lagos in view of a new road that would link them straight to Ijebu Igbo-Sagamu to Lagos”, the statement added that regrettably only 20 per cent has been done in spite of more than N8 billion paid to the contractor handling the project”.

The statement quoted Adagunodo to have accused Aregbesola’s government of approving upward review of contract sum of these projects without commensurate work on sites, adding that “what made these contracts and unending variations suspicious was the fact that the companies handling them are suspected to have strong links to persons in government both at national and state levels.

But, when contacted over the development, the media adviser to Aregbesola, Mr Sola Fasure averred that “the governor does not owe the PDP any explanation on how he spent the loans obtained by his government”.

Speaking during a telephone chat with our correspondent, Fasure argued that “Aregbesola has explained to the good people of Osun State how he expended the loans his government secured on visible projects and he does not owe the PDP any explanation on this matter.” (Nigerian Tribune)