Controversies have trailed the unveiling and distribution of tractors to farmers by the Osun State government.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke had, on August 30, 2024, unveiled 31 ‘newly purchased’ tractors during an event held at the Agricultural Input Supply Unit, Aisu, Ede.
A week after the unveiling, some residents are doubting the sincerity of the state government on the number of tractors procured and the amount expended.
Before rolling out the 31 tractors, Adeleke had on July 25, 2024, through a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said government had received a first batch of 72 ‘newly coupled’ tractors out of the 114 tractors paid for.
Rasheed in the statement titled, ‘Governor Adeleke Scale Up Efforts on Food Security, Procures New Tractors to Boost Food Production in Osun’, said, “Yesterday, the government received the first batch of 72 newly coupled tractors out of 114 tractors paid for by the Governor Ademola Adeleke led administration in a bid to boost food production and support farmers in the state.”
Also, Rasheed in July said the 72 tractors were a first batch, noting that others were being expected.
“About 24 trucks of 3 tractors each have since arrived the state in the first batch of the procurement, while others are still being expected.”
But the governor, while speaking during the unveiling, contradicted his media aide, noting that 31 tractors were ‘newly purchased’.
“We are equally unveiling 31 newly purchased tractors with full implements for the use of our farmers in Osun State which is the first phase of this project.
“These tractors will be released to farmers cooperative societies and associations after all necessary administrative procedures have been concluded. This is also in line with the promise made to our resourceful youthful population during the last End Bad Governance protest. We hope to provide all necessary infrastructure and resources to enhance agricultural production and ensure food security for our people,”
He also disclosed that his administration is committing N8 billion for the acquiring of tractors and farm clearing equipment, with another N2 billion expected to be spent on farm input support.
“I also wish to inform the public that the state is committing N8 Billion for the acquisition of tractors and farm clearing equipment within the context of due process and another N2 billion worth of farm input support.”
Adeleke, however, did not specify how much each tractor was bought, a development that has generated reactions from members of the public.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that since the inception of the present administration in Osun, comprehensive details of projects executed by have been met with controversies.
Opposition parties, civil society organisations, and some individuals have also continued to call out the state government on several occasions for its alleged non-disclosure of full details of projects and programmes it has executed.
Some of the projects that have led to controversies include – sinking of 332 boreholes across all wards in the state, the award of the N100bn infrastructure projects, and teachers’ recruitment, among others.
A civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, had called for the probe of the boreholes.
The Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, said his members visited several wards across the state, interacted with many residents and discovered that most of the boreholes were not functional.
Oyedokun-Alli said, “Our findings revealed that upon completion of most if not all of the boreholes, they did not work beyond the day the installed pumping machines were tested.”
But while reacting to the claim by the group, Rasheed said, “A local government survey plus the area office would show that contrary to reports, the water project has not failed, and a check with the relevant government offices would have corrected misinformation being peddled around. As of today, our people at the local level are enjoying these boreholes even before it was fully commissioned.
“If interested stakeholders are also conscious of the earlier announcement that full details of state income and expenditure will be unveiled at the Ipade Imole holding in late June, there won’t be any need to rush to judgment and consequent false assumptions and unfounded allegations of failed projects.”
In its reaction, a civil society organisation, Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), berated the state government for not giving accurate information about its projects.
CSJJP coordinator, Akin Akanji, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Thursday in Osogbo, said it was becoming of the Adeleke’s administration to contradict itself on sensitive issues, noting that Osun residents deserve to know the true state of things.
He said, “It is very unfortunate that the state governor and his media aide are contradicting themselves on the issue of the newly procured tractors.
“Osun residents deserve better as we don’t know who to believe between the governor and his aide. It is becoming of the state government and it is a sign of unseriousness.
“The money being expended on projects is taxpayers’ money, and they deserve to know the true facts on how the monies are being spent.”
Efforts to get clarification from the Commissioner for Agriculture, Tola Faseru, proved abortive as calls to his phone were not picked.
Also, text messages sent to his phone and WhatsApp were not replied at the time of filing this report.
OSUN DEFENDER
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