I left N3.9bn in Ekiti treasury -Former acting governor

Dapo Falade, Ado-Ekiti - 21.05.2009

THE immediate past acting governor of Ekiti State, Honourable Tunji Odeyemi, has declared that he left N3.9 billion in the state treasury on the eve of his departure from office as the acting governor on May 6.

Making the disclosure in Ado-Ekiti while addressing members of the state legislature at the first plenary sitting which he presided over, on Tuesday, Odeyemi said that the announcement was important to clear any doubt about his tenure as the acting governor of the state.

Odeyemi, who is the Speaker of the House of Assembly, was sworn-in as state acting governor on February 17, 2009, following the nullification of the election of Mr. Segun Oni as the state governor by the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Kwara State.

He explained that the total sum of N4.2 billion was inherited on assumption of duty as the acting governor, adding; “let me use this opportunity to announce that on assumption of duty as the acting governor of the state on February 17, 2009 due to the court verdict, I inherited the sum of N4.2 billion, while on my departure on May 6, I left the sum of N3.9 billion in the state treasury.

“I made bold to say that during the 78 days of my administration, I did not involve in reckless spending of public funds placed in my trust”.

Odeyemi, who said he devoted the greater part of his administration to ensuring a peaceful, free and fair conduct of the rerun of the election in the state, commended the legislators for their support while he was the acting governor and charged them to extend the same gesture to Governor Oni.