The Civil Societies’ Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) has expressed mixed feelings with the recent bail-out by the Federal Government (FG) to the states, saying it is worried that the funds could be squandered by Osun State Government except there is proper monitoring of the money by the state indigenes.
The group therefore demanded that the exact amount of the bailout funds received by the state be made public immediately by the governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
CSCEO stated this in a communiqué released by its Directorate of Media and Strategy after its meeting in Osogbo on Monday, July 13, 2015 to review the activities that took place during the Osun Emancipation rally which was held on TuesdayJuly, 7 in Osogbo, the state capital.
According to the communiqué signed by CSCEO Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, the group called on the state indigenes to be vigilant in monitoring the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola by preventing him from diverting the money released for payment of salaries and pensions to other uses.
“The coalition is worried that the said bail-out might be squandered the same manner Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola squandered the ecological funds, excess crude revenue, SURE-P, UBE funds, local governments allocation and over six hundred billion naira loan he collected from various sources with nothing tangible to show for it except uncompleted and dilapidated aerodrome, roads and school buildings and a collapsed economy resulting in extreme poverty, hunger, death and insecurity of lives and properties”.
While thanking the state indigenes for their tremendous support during the anti- Aregbesola’s rally, the group urged them to, “remain resolute in speaking and acting against every wicked policy and acts of the suppressive and despotic rule of the governor until he delivers on his mandate to the people which includes banishment of hunger and poverty, guaranteeing the people a decent living standard and promoting their health and wellbeing”.
Speaking on the rally, the association explained that the peaceful assembly started at the Aiyetoro area of the town until thugs said to be state boys suddenly appeared and started firing from their guns and brandishing several weapons ranging from machetes, cutlasses and axes to cudgels, sticks and horsewhips with which they inflicted varying degrees of bodily injuries on innocent citizens.
“But disappointingly, the police stood aloof watching while the state boys carried on their nefarious activities intimidating people and denying them of their constitutional right to lawful gathering.
It noted that because nothing was done to curb the attack on the protesters on Tuesday, 7th July another attack was staged by the state boys against innocent citizens at a newspapers stand at Finger Licking area opposite the Old governor’s office on Thursday, 9th July, 2015 destroying the newspapers stand, vandalising the papers and inflicting injuries on innocent citizens accusing them of booing the governor and making negative comments about him while he was passing bye.
“The coalition is disturbed by the role played by the police as well as the apparent freedom enjoyed by the state boys who wreak havoc on innocent citizens with impunity. If this is not curbed it might lead to gross insecurity and breakdown of law and order in the state”.
The group said it has resolved that a petition be written to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the role of the officers and men of the Osun State command of the Nigerian Police Force in both attacks and call them to order.