The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to address allegations concerning the controversial purchase of multi-billion naira tractors, a deal the APC claims may have scammed the people of Osun State.
The APC, in a press statement released on Monday, accused the Adeleke administration of using dubious tactics to avoid answering critical questions about the tractor purchase.
The tractors, allegedly bought for N8 billion which was meant to serve as a relief to the people are now allegedly being resold to the farmers.
According to the APC, several farmers have reported that the government, after entering into an “unholy alliance” with tractor suppliers, is pressuring them to acquire the equipment under hostile conditions, including installment payments.
The tractors, which were bought to support agricultural development, are being described by some farmers as “substandard machines with low durability.”
The APC said, “Given the revelation from the farmers as well as the deafening silence of the government to our query on the subject matter, we are tempted to believe that the ‘tractorization revolution’ of the state government is all ruse and deception to score cheap political points.”
Chief Kola Olabisi, the APC Director of Media and Information in Osun State, further questioned the transparency of the transaction. “We make bold to state that the dubious tone of the response of the ruling party to our query is an attestation to the fact that Governor Adeleke and his handlers definitely have something to hide on the issues of the contentious tractors,” Olabisi said.
The APC demanded that the state government provide immediate answers to several questions, including the actual cost of each tractor, the number of tractors ordered and received, and the specific financial arrangement being imposed on farmers.
“Is it true each tractor costs N70 million, considering that N8 billion was splashed on 114 tractors?” the statement asked.
The APC also questioned the nature of the financing plan being used: “Are the tractors being given to the farmers on a rent-basis, hire-purchase or other finance leasing plan?”
The APC said that anything short of clear and honest answers would confirm suspicions that “Osun people have been scammed once again through the shoddy and sleazy tractors’ transaction.”
