The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring proper establishment of the University of Ilesa as promised during his electioneering campaign of 2018 where he declared his intention to upgrade the erstwhile College of Education to a modern first class University
Governor Adeleke noted that what the former administration of Mr Oyetola did by rushing the upgrade of the then College of Education at the tail end of his administration can best be described as a political project aimed at deceiving the people of Ijesha land after ignoring the project for three years.
Governor Adeleke made this declaration today while on an assessment tour of the University and to also relate with Ijesha people on his wider plans for the region and the people.
“I am here to access the actual state of the University of Ilesa and rub minds with our people on moving Ijesha forward.
The committee that I set up to review the process of the upgrade had submitted its report and my visit is the last stage of action before I will issue a white paper on the next line of action. This University has come to stay,” he said.
Governor Adeleke also took the opportunity to inform the people of Ijesha land about the Ilesa Water Project and the effect of illegal mining activities in the region under the previous administration in relation to water pollution, environmental degradation, income leakage etc.
“The past APC government mismanaged the Ilesa water project with more than 12 billion naira spent so far without any result.
“I have met with the Minister of Water Resources who confirmed to me that the project failed due to fraudulent activities of the contractor. It is also public knowledge that the Consultant for the water project alleged a demand of five million dollars from the state house committee on water resources.
“We have since set up a Joint Committee with the Ministry of Water Resources. The contract will be re-advertised after an out of court settlement with all the stakeholders involved in the project”, the Governor stated.
The Governor further informed the Ijesha people on how the past APC government encouraged illegal mining activities in and around Ijesha land, thereby causing serious environmental degradation and pollution of water in the state while also denying the state the much needed income from mining activities.
“The APC government encouraged illegal mining in the state. This has caused serious pollution of our water.The Water Minister confirmed to me that Ilesa underground water source is polluted.
“The state also lost several billions of Naira that should have been earned as IGR if the mining activities were done properly”, Governor Adeleke declared.
“The committee I set up to review the activities of the illegal miners submitted their report yesterday. I am going through it and will soon issue the strategies that my administration will be using to address the water and environmental pollution caused by mining activities.
” I am confident that this will effectively clear the mess caused by the APC administration in Ijesha land”, the Governor concluded.
Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
