…Says Governor will continue to pay salary as long as he remains helmsman
The assertion by Rev. Isaac Oluyamo, the Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North, Anglican Communion, that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola would win his re-election but that salary would cease for four years, has been described as one lacking in sound logic, Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola’s Chief Press Secretary, has said.
Although the clergyman claimed to be delivering a supposedly divine message, Omipidan noted that his reported claim that the second term of governors and government is always full of turbulence showed that the clergy was only expressing his personal opinion based on logic.
The governor’s spokesman was however quick to add that his logic could not find accommodation in Osun, as Governor Oyetola had in the last three years plus based the governance of Osun on “creativity, innovation, probity and sustainable development. These are rare governance instruments in Nigeria, especially those governments the clergyman based his logic on.”
Omipidan further said, “As a Government, we have a solid and foolproof template for running the economy.
“Oyetola’s government is a product of God’s pronouncement and promise (Ilerioluwa). God who spoke to the Governor about the mandate cannot approbate and reprobrate at the same time. God cannot give a second term and withhold the resources for running it at the same time.
“God is not a liar. He has spoken and government is fulfilling its own part by responsibly putting mechanisms in place to put the economy on a sure footing.
“In the unlikely event of worsening economic downturn, Osun has demonstrated enough competence to run a State in a depressed economy under Governor Oyetola.
“We have proved beyond all reasonable doubts that we have the capacity to substantially fund our overheads, including salaries and infrastructure development, from cutting costs and plugging wastages, among other windows.
“With a sustained culture of economic transformation through agriculture, mining and tourism, we are poised to take our economic destiny in our own hands.
“While we appreciate the clergyman’s goodwill and understand his concern and fears, which are products of existessential realities and experiences, we make bold to say that Governor Oyetola will continue to pay full salaries as long as he remains the Osun’s helmsman because it is a covenant between him and God. And we believe God will never forsake him,” Omipidan added.