Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has responded to the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointments of Senior Special Assistants to the positions of Government House Pool and Oranmiyan New Town. He emphasized that the establishment of these positions originated during the tenure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
The response follows the circulation of a memorandum dated August 9, 2023, which appointed Oyetunji Rasaki Abefe as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Government House Pool. This appointment was officially communicated by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye.
According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the State governor, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday, the term “Government House Pool” refers to the transport unit responsible for managing drivers and vehicles within the Government House premises. This office, established by previous administrations under the All-Progressives Congress, has been operational for approximately twelve years.
The statement further clarified the necessity and relevance of the two appointments, dismissing claims by certain partisan critics that these positions were mere political patronage. It emphasized that Governor Adeleke’s approach is one of retaining beneficial practices while discarding unfavorable ones.
In addressing the specific cases at hand, the statement explained that these appointments are essential for safeguarding and efficiently managing both public and private assets. The commitment to preserving functional structures and practices while instituting necessary changes was highlighted as a key principle guiding these decisions.