Two weeks after his absence from Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, was said to have embarked on a working vacation to Europe and Asia where he was expected to finalize partnership deals with investors and development partners.
Governor Adeleke was out of the country before the suspension of Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo, on November 16 where he gave directives for the swearing-in of Justice Olayinka Afolabi, as the Acting Chief Judge, and has never returned.
But, a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, stated that the Governor, who has not gone on a break since assuming office a year ago, is billed to conclude partnership deals in several sectors with investors who had earlier visited the state.
Though Rasheed did not explain the period of the Governor’s stay and the day of departure, he said “speaking before departure, the Governor said Osun people have the right to know about the movement of their Governor, hence his public disclosure of his short vacation abroad.
“This is a democracy. My masters are Osun people who elected me to office and to whom I am surely accountable. My trip is however a working one as I will be meeting foreign partners who are eager to join several sectors of our state economy.
“The last year has been rewarding as we have stabilized the state from inherited rot. We are reconstructing and simultaneously delivering good governance. That is why our 2024 budget is tagged budget of reconstruction and recovery.
“In one year, we place Osun state on a path of sustainable development, upgrading critical sectors like education, health, culture and entertainment, water, sports, digital economy, workers’ welfare, infrastructures, and agriculture. We cap it with a multi-billion-naira infrastructure plan now under implementation.
“I thank the Osun people for their continuous support and prayers. At home and abroad, I am committed to delivering on our five-point agenda for a better life for our people,” Adeleke was quoted as saying.
Daily Sun recalls that Governor Adeleke had barred top officials from embarking on foreign trips for the rest of the year.
A statement by Rasheed said, “Foreign trips for top officials for the rest of the year are hereby suspended unless there is a direct emergency to be authorized by the Governor.
“We must sustain the momentum of our service delivery by avoiding excessive spending on recurrent and overheads. Our needs from office to accommodation are much, but our resources are limited. So we have to devise a coping mechanism pending the time our funding situation will improve.
“While memos by Special Advisers must pass through the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioners, the Commissioners must ensure fair play and an accommodating spirit,” Adeleke said.