Civil Society Group Alleges Aregbesola Of Begging Banks To Bankroll Election

A Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) has alleged that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Saturday night meet with the three (3) new generation Bank Managing Directors in Lagos with the aim of securing a loan to the tune of N1.5billion.

The proposed loan, according to the group was sought for the purpose of bankrolling the forthcoming by-election in Osun West senatorial district.

In a statement issued by the CSCEOS’ Directorate of Media and Strategy, and signed by its Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman copies which were  made available to Journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, maintained that the N1.5billion funds in question were meant to be used from Thursday 6th of July, 2017 till Saturday 8th of July, 2017 by-election day.

According to the group, the governor had promised the banks of prompt repayment from the much awaited second tranche of the Paris Club refund, insisting that the meeting was clandestine and nocturnal, to avoid further embarrassment from retirees, who have earlier accused the government of plan to divert the funds.

The group further alleged the Osun State government to have concluded that each bank will release a sum of N500million, as Sterling Bank agreed to release its own N500million on Monday.

It warned the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the affected banks against collaborating with the State government to divert the Paris Club on frivolity, saying that this was against public probity, accountability and  economic justice of the masses.

It urged the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and other security agents to beam searchlight to these banks and other likely banks that might have been contacted by Governor Aregbesola for this shady deal ahead of July 8th, 2017 by-election.

It also called on the well meaning people, especially, elders of the State to call Aregbesola to order by spending the Second tranche of the London-Paris Club Refunds on the payment of backlog of salary and pension arrears with gratuities, instead of spending
part of the funds on the forthcoming by-election