APC, PDP Go back-and-Forth over Osun govt tractor procurement

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State has slammed the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, for raising questions concerning the tractor procurement by the state government.

TrackNews Media gathered that in August, the state government purchased some tractors which it has designated for the revitalisation of agriculture in the state.

The party in a statement on Sunday signed by the Deputy Director, Media and Publicity, James Bamgbose described the comments from the APC as lacking understanding on basic rudiments of government.

The party also described the reaction from the Osun APC as a vindication of the rejection of the party by the Osun electorates.

While maintaining that Governor Ademola Adeleke is committed to the delivery of his 5-point campaign agenda, Osun PDP added that delivery in all sectors across the state was a manifestation.

“In their 12 years of mismanagement of state resources, there was no additional tractor added to the state inventory despite selling off all the tractors bought by the PDP administration before them.

“Democracy is best effective when the opposition parties are up on their game with constructive criticisms which will put the government in check as the ruling party delivers good governance to the people. It is even difficult for a failure to talk about success, let alone take advice from such people on how to succeed.

“It is disturbing to note that the APC has failed to realise that its 12 years administration in the state will forever be used as an example of what bad governance looks like and the attendant consequences for the people in the history of the state.

“On their question on budgetary provision, Mr Olabisi should be informed that the government is open to a supplementary budget to fund whatever remains in the figure quoted by the governor.

“The mere announcement by the Governor that a total of N10bn WILL be spent on agriculture does not mean it has been spent as he ignorantly mentioned in the statement signed by him,” he said.

The Osun APC had in a statement signed by its state Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal had urged the residents of the state to be cautious over the tractors which the state government under Governor Adeleke purchased.

The party also expressed disappointment that only 32 tractors were unveiled as against the 72 publicly announced by the state government.

The party also queried the N10bn injected into procuring tractors and farming inputs by the state government as against the total allocation for the agriculture sector in 2024 which is N3.7 billion.

“It is disheartening to note that only 31 tractors were unveiled yesterday, as against 72 earlier parroted by the governor and his lying machines. The governor, by his unspeakable action, did not only betray the trust of the citizens, but also reduced the respect due to his office and person in the estimation of the public.

“As if the falsity of the actual number of the tractors purchased was not enough, the public, most especially the enthusiastic farmers, were shocked to the marrow when they were confronted with the news of having had to wait for more time to conclude “all necessary administrative procedures” before the tractors were released to them.

“The gloomy revelation fuelled further suspicion that the state government did not purchase the tractors as claimed, but only facilitated a business transaction that would make Osun farmers purchase the tractors on hire-purchase and instalment-payment basis.

“Given the situation, there is a need for the state government to make clarification on the raging speculation having regard that only N3.7 billion is provisioned for Agriculture in the 2024 budget,” he stated.