By
Governor Ibikunle Amosun
OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday gave details of his travel expenses and those of his aides in the last 16 months.
The governor said his administration spent N236, 774, 252.30 on official trips abroad since he assumed office 16 months ago.
Amosun spoke through his Information and Strategy Commissioner, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, at a media briefing at the Governor’s Office, Abeokuta.
Of the amount, Olaniyonu said Amosun’s international travel expenses between May, last year, and August, this year, cost N30,792,295. This comprises six overseas trips to China, Malaysia, Philipines, United States, London and Australia.
He said he personally financed his recent trip for the Umrah (lesser Hajj) to Saudi Arabia.
According to him, the explanation was not only to silence the mischief makers, who were peddling falsehood about the governor’s overseas trips, but also to demonstrate the administration’s resolve to be “transparent” and “accountable” to the electorate.
He said: “We believe this government is accountable. That is why we are explaining to the court of public opinion. A script is being acted out (by detractors), but we are going to be focused.
“The only thing they do is spread mischief and we are not going to play to their game because the state will not continue to play to their script. We are focused. Some genuine people of Ogun State feel that there should be an explanation.”
Olaniyonu drew attention to a publication in The Nigerian Compass, which he described as “injurious” and “malicious.”
The commissioner said Amosun’s lawyer, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has written the paper’s editor for a retraction of the alleged libelous materials which alleged that the governor “jets to Saudi Arabia Aboard on N26million chartered flight”.
Olaniyonu added that Amosun is demanding N200, 000,000 as damages for the injury caused to his “person, character and reputation” by the publication.
SOURCE: 7 September 2012.
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