OGUN GOVERNMENT ‘RULES OUT’ KEY VENUE FOR INAUGURATION OF INCOMING ADMINISTRATION

The letter with reference number SSG/ADM 16/Vol 8/10, a copy in the custody of Penpushing, was in response to a text message sent by Deputy Governor-Elect to the Secretary to the State Government on the update towards the preparation.

Penpushing further reports that, the Deputy Governor-Elect heads the Transition Committee of the incoming administration, while the Secretary to the State Government head the committee of out-going government.

The Secretary to the Government in the letter originating from his office, declared to the Dapo Abiodun led transition committee that, most of the facilities for the inauguration may not be available until few days to the handing over day, routine business of governance.

Penpushing further reports that, the letter titled, ‘Re: Inspection and availability of key government facilities”, dated May 8, 2019’ regretted the non-availability of most important facilities in the state capital (Abeokuta) for the inauguration of the in-coming administration, slated for May 29.

“For the records, I wish to restate that His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had directed that your committee shall be offered full cooperation and assistance in the discharge of your mandate. The challenge, however, appears to be that most of the facilities indicated in your text message, the “Valley View, Presidential lodge, Mitros Suite, June 12 Cultural Centre, Stadium”, are currently being used for the routine business of governance and therefore may not be available until about a few days to the May 29 inauguration as we had duly notified during our inaugural Joint Meeting of Monday, 29th April, 2019’, the letter reads.

The letter also emphasized,”as you be aware, the State is preparing for the working visit of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the third week of May to Commission a number of legacy projects in commemoration of this Administration’s end-of-tenure’.

“Understandably, all hands are on deck and most of the named State facilities will be in use. Secondly, during the Holy month of Ramadan, the state organises and engages in a number of daily programmes, culminating in the state’s “special Iftar” for which we routinely use many of the named facilities’.

‘It may be of interest to also notify that our Administration has a number of end-of-tenure activities, including but not limited to social Jumat and Church Thanksgiving ceremonies, and other varieties to show appreciation to the good people of Ogun state for their support and that the Almighty God for an impactful and successful tenure’.

“I have gone into the details above to underscore the constraints about the immediate availability of these facilities.  However, I have again cross-checked with our team in charge of the end-of-tenure activities and in the spirit of cooperation, we are able to offer the following: (1) the Valley View Auditorium; the VIP lodge; the MTR new Governor’s Guest House; and the MTR hall (adjacent to the Presidential lodge); will be available from Wednesday, 15th May, 2019 and the facilities will be handed over to your team on Saturday, 25th May, 2019”.

Penpushing reports also that, in a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State, Tunde Oldunjoye confirmed the report, stressing that the transition committee raised by the outgoing Governor,  Ibikunle Amosun, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, has been uncooperative to ensure a smooth hand-over.

The party spokesman said Governor Amosun’s transition committee was not obviously cooperating with the Governor-elect’s team, citing the scheduled meeting slated for last Monday but due to the absence of the Secretary State Government (Adeoluwa), the parley couldn’t hold.