Osun ACN gives PDP 21 days to prove allegation against Aregbesola

Gov . Aregbesola 

 

The ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State yesterday gave the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a 21-day ultimatum to prove its allegation that Governor Rauf Aregbesola siphons N48 million monthly through the Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES).

The Arergbesola administration recruited over 20,000 youths for OYES with each of the volunteer receiving N10,000 salary.

The Osun State PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Prince Diran Odeyemi, condemned the scheme.

The party alleged that Aregbesola uses the scheme to siphon the state’s meagre resources.

It said: “The Aregbesola government is recklessly misusing the state’s finances while the governor is creating the impression that he is prudent with the resources at the disposal of his government.”

But in a statement yesterday by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, ACN challenged the PDP to substantiate its allegation with facts or be taken to the court of public opinion.

The ACN said: “If the Osun PDP does not proceed to court to demonstrate its credibility by proving this allegation in court within 21 days, then the PDP will stand accused of being a collection of not just irresponsible politicians, but a dishonourable outfit unworthy of participating in civilised political engagements.

“ACN believes that it is high time the national office of the PDP in Abuja called its people in Osun State to order before it makes the rest of us believe that this primitive conduct of the party in the state is actually the nature and characteristics of the PDP nationwide.”

Calling for a public debate on the matter, the ACN noted that “apart from the challenge we have posed to the PDP to approach the court to prove its allegations, we equally call on the best of PDP’s leaders to come forward with facts and figures in a public debate”.