Facts have surfaced that the recent previous Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, used “discretionary powers” to award vehicles worth more than N1billion as an exit package to himself, his deputy, the State Government Secretary and other heads of his government.
It was gathered that most of the vehicles were bought between January and February this year for top officials of the previous administration.
The former governor’s “Exit Package,” as specified in a document made accessible to journalists, includes a Lexus jeep with registration number, 10SG ; Land Cruiser SUV with registration number, OY 02 A01 assigned to the governor’s ADC and a Hilux Toyota with number OY 608 A01 assigned to the Escort Commander.
The Deputy Governor walked away with a Toyota Land Cruiser and three Toyota Hilux D/C pick-ups.
State Secretary Ishmael Alli walked away with a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser and a 2018 Prado SUV model.
Similarly, a Toyota Land Cruiser GX-R (2016) full option was also given to the former Speaker. The Head of Service also got a Toyota Prado SUV and Toyota Hilux pickup.
The former wife of the governor, Mrs. Ajimobi, took with her two Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, a Toyota Avensis ; two Hyundai Saloon cars and a Renault Latitude saloon car, making a total of six cars carted away by the former first lady.
Further inquiry disclosed that the government of Oyo State had procured the vehicles of the SSG for N40million each. The OYSG 1 is a N140 million worth of treated vehicle. The value of the other cars like the Toyota Hilux and the Land Cruiser SUVs is about N30million each.
In a letter dated 4 May 2019, Mr. Alli, the SSG, wrote a letter to Mr. Ajimobi, a copy of which was acquired by reporters, requesting that the top officers be permitted to go away as an exit package with their official cars.
Mr Alli referred to certain laws, including the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in support of his request, indicating that the governor could use his discretionary authority to approve his application by law.
He also quoted the tradition of south-west state governments that enables state principal officers to take home the vehicles in their fleet when their tenure expires.
The letter, titled, “Exit Package for Principal Officers of Government” reads:
“Further to my earlier submission at page 1-2 with attachments from pages 3-14 to your Excellency on the above subject and the imminent end of the tenure of the administration, I like to state as follows:
“Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution(as amended)makes provision for the pension of gratuity of governor and deputy governors who are not removed from office as a result of impeachment.
“Oyo State Law 2007 amended the remuneration package for political office holders in Oyo State,
“On the policy of the disposal of vehicles to government functionaries and others, His Excellency, the governor can exercise discretionary powers to approve the first right of purchase of their official vehicles and equipment on the expiration of their tenures or otherwise, at the depreciation values that may be determined by the board of survey or based on the exercise of discretionary powers of the governor(page 11 of file).
“According to Land Law; 1978, the governor has statutory rights of occupancy easements appoument to statutory right of occupancy, to wave, wholly or partly, except as otherwise prescribed.
“Observed tradition and findings in the southwest states where principal officers were allowed to go with the fleet of their official vehicles vide page 14
“Feelers around the southwest zone confirmed similar trends.
“Based on the above, I am recommending for your Excellency’s consideration and approval that the governor, the deputy governor and any other principal/political appointee be considered as deserving of such an exit package free of charge as may be approved by your Excellency.
“Your Excellency is graciously requested to consider the above for further directives and necessary actions, sir.”
The memo was promptly approved by the then governor “as recommended.”
Mr Ajimobi also approved the request of the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, A. O. Makanjuola, in a letter dated April 18, for her to take away her official vehicle as an exit package.
Mrs Makanjuola wrote: “This is to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve the state via my appointment under your leadership, as the Chairman of SUBEB.
“May I humbly request your approval for the allocation as an exit privilege, of my official car – Toyota Highlander – 2014 Model, Reg No. 06D14OY, Chassis No. 5TDBKRFH7 S025504 and engine No. 2GRE632241X, Colour Blue, free of charge in line with the exercise of your Excellency discretionary power on the request.”
However, journalists has been reliably informed of a policy of the state government that gives political office holders the right of first refusal to purchase vehicles within their fleet, for which they would be required to pay up to about 30 per cent of the value of the vehicles.
But Mr Ajimobi, even though the laws cited by his SSG also noted that he had the powers to decide the value of the cars and what the users could pay, chose to give them out free of charge, of which he was the greatest beneficiary.
The cars were taken away as exit package in spite of the extraordinarily lavish severance allowances available to former governors, deputies and other political office holders.
The Oyo State Pension Law 2004 provides that a former governor and his deputy are to collect a pension as long as they live.
The law stipulates that the pension for life will be paid at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor of the state.
The breakdown of the pension and allowances includes furniture Allowance which is put at 300 per cent of the annual basic salary, leave allowance is 10 per cent of annual basic salary, severance allowance will be 300 per cent of the annual basic salary.
Oyo State’s new governor, Seyi Makinde, on assuming office, had directed that the cars taken away to be returned to the state government. His ultimatum to the former governor and his aides is yet to receive any attention, as no vehicle has been returned to the government.
In responding to the allegations that he and his aides took away cars belonging to the state government, Mr Ajimobi said Mr Makinde should focus on governance and not look at “mundane issues.”
“I heard them say that members of our cabinet carted away government cars. We have served and left. He should stop looking at mundane issues,” he said.
Justifying further the action of Mr Ajimobi, the man who served as his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Tunji Bolaji, said that the issue of cars given to principal officers of the last administration had been laid to rest given the fact that the action of the governor followed due process.
“Everything was legally done. All due process was followed. If anybody went away with his official vehicle, he did so in line with due process,” Mr Bolaji said.
“Don’t forget that we are talking about a governor, who has the power to take such decisions.”