Demolition: Osun pays N600m as compensation

Osun State government has disclosed that it has paid N600 million as compensation to those whose houses and shops were affected in the separation of buildings from the roads on its on-going urban renewal programme.

The State Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Wale Bolorunduro, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, said the programme was aimed at giving the proposed nine cities identity like Sigapore, China, New York, among others.

Bolorunduro, assured that the present administration will pay compensation to all the affected people with genuine documents, adding that the government will not in any way unjustifiably inflict pains on the people.

Apparently reacting to a statement credited to former commissioner under Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s PDP government, Adetoyese Ojo, that the government plans to plant trees and flowers on the roads’ setbacks, Bolorunduro said the exercise was aimed at giving the state identity and added impetus for socio-economic development.

He also denied that allegation that the government is stock pilling its share of SURE-P fund from the Federal Government, reiterating that the fund was spent on social services.

These, he said, include “Agba Osun”, where N10,000 was given as monthly stipends to vulnerable aged people, transportation infrastructures, school feeding programme, tagged ‘O Meal’, ‘O Cabs’, provision of taxi for transporters, among others.

On allegations of indebtedness by the opposition, Bolorunduro explained that it is unfounded, noting that there is no financial institution that can borrow a single state up to N300 billon.

He stressed that what was obtained was a bond form the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

He said the allegation was aimed at causing confusion in the country and the state.

According to him, “the indebtedness allegation against the present administration is not true. It is an attempt by the PDP to confusion the nation and residents of Osun.

“They are laying the foundation for them to plunge the state in trouble. Nobody will plug Osun into backward. We know them and their antecedent.

“Most of the governorship aspirants on the platform of PDP were sustaining their lifestyle by debt. They were living largely on loans and lease of cars and some of these facilities and loans they refuse to pay which turn to bad debts.

Bolornduro added that the PDP led government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola made Osun State bad customer to many banks before the arrival of Aregbesola.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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