The release of debtor states list and their staggering debt profile has once again spured discussion especially in the states which ranked in the first five.
The issue of debt profile in Osun state has been a contentious one over the years between the APC led government and other critical stakeholders in the polity. The state government had overtime been so reluctant in releasing the actual debt standing of the state leading to various figures flying around amidst speculations.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) released debt figure of Osun state at #165.91 Billion with the fear of it rising. NEITI says “On rising debt profile, the case of Osun, Cross River and Delta states raised major concerns giving the fact that their total borrowings were found by the NEITI publication to be more than double the total revenues accruing to the states.”
With this revelation, Osun state discourse circle has been switched. One of the foremost critic of the Aregbesola led government Retired Justice Folahanmi Oloyede says she has been vindicated with her earlier position on the debt profile of Osun state.
Feautring on a radio programme in Osogbo the state capital, Oloyede opined that the state had no business with borrowings if Governor Aregbesola had managed the state resources judiciously.
But to Dr Ogunyemi, A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, the infrastructural development witnessed in Osun has justified the debt incurred by the state government.
While Justice Oloyede anchored the state’s penchant for borrowing to an act of corruption,thus plunging the state to a long term debt with little or nothing to show, Dr Oguyemi was of the fervent view that the administration of Rauf Aregbesola has done much to improve the life of all despite the debt profile.
As the state debt profile is being given a proper perspective, the debate will no doubt rage on even as Oloyede is of the view that Rauf Aregbesola should “honourably leave since its obvious he cannot handle the state affairs any more”, but to the protagonists of Rauf Aregbesola,his government may have been the best ever to have happened to Osun state.
