Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Mrs. Bola Olukoju, has stated that the government is committed to rectifying resources misappropriated by previous PDP officials.
The Commissioner’s statement – obtained by The Informant247 – come in response to a BBC report spotlighting deficiencies in local school infrastructure, particularly focusing on the Kankan LGEA School in Asa local government area.
Olukoju emphasized the ongoing efforts of the administration to address the repercussions of mismanagement, particularly in the education sector.
She pointed out the challenges faced in repairing the damage caused by the blatant theft of resources, including UBEC funds.
Olukoju spotlighted the magnitude of the task at hand, stating, “Regardless, the truth is that the administration still grapples with the burden of fixing the most basic things, including those that should have been done but had resources meant for them blatantly stolen by these PDP officials.”
While acknowledging the challenges faced in the education sector, Olukoju expressed disappointment at the lack of context provided in the BBC’s coverage.
Drawing attention to the historical context of the situation, Olukoju revealed the extent of resources misappropriated by PDP officials, citing the blatant theft of UBEC funds as a prime example.
She recounted how a staggering N1 billion UBEC intervention funds were withdrawn in cash and stolen, leading to severe setbacks for education infrastructure across the state.
Despite these obstacles, Olukoju reassured the public of the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing the deficits in education infrastructure.
She pointed up initiatives undertaken by the administration, including accessing UBEC counterpart funds spanning multiple years to fund the repair and renovation of school facilities.
Furthermore, Olukoju emphasized the need for accurate representation and understanding of the challenges faced by the government in fixing the infrastructure gaps left by years of neglect and mismanagement.
She stressed the importance of transparent communication and urged the media to provide comprehensive context in their reporting.
The Commissioner also vehemently denied allegations linking the incumbent government to the ongoing corruption trial of former Governor Abdulfatahi Ahmed.
Olukoju said the trial of the former Governor is the exclusive prerogative of the anti-graft agencies, – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – who may have found against him following their own investigations of different transactions involving his administration.
“We find the accusation of the opposition party as cowardly, baseless, and wrong-headed. The right place to prove the innocence of anyone accused of wrongdoing is the court of law, not on the pages of newspapers or through shadow-boxing. They should leave us out of the issue,” she said.
In conclusion, Mrs. Bola Olukoju stressed the Kwara State Government’s dedication to addressing the repercussions of past misappropriation of resources while striving to improve education infrastructure for the benefit of the state’s students and communities.