Rauf Aregbesola: What could therefore have prompted a decent man to want to appropriate a public property, if not avarice?

Government of the State of Osun has described as mere hogwash the protests by former dismissed Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola against the appointment of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, as the Chairman, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU).
Aregbesola had, last week, approved the appointment of Soyinka as the chairman of the centre, an appointment that was kicked against by Oyinlola, claiming the sole ownership of the centre.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stated that Oyinlola’s claim that the CBCIU does not belong to Osun is the most despicable comment to have emanated from him.

If the centre does not belong to Osun, the statement queried: “How was the law that set it up passed? How has it been funded since its establishment?”

According to the statement: “Just in case Oyinlola has forgotten, he delivered a speech on Wednesday January 7, 2009 at the commissioning ceremony of the centre, where he stated as follows:

“As you all may be aware, we have taken delivery of the archival materials which is (sic) forming the nucleus of this centre. The collections procured from Ulli and Georgina Beire at a cost of six hundred and eighty thousand United States Dollars, was provided by the Government of Osun State”, quoting Oyinlola’s speech.

The statement noted that for Oyinlola to have personalized the centre by making himself the life chairman of the centre, through the law setting it up, even after leaving office as a governor, was another height of impunity for which his administration was based.

The statement noted that this was a major reason the law that established the centre was amended by the State House of Assembly and signed by Governor Aregbesola in July, this year, and it is now called “State of Osun Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (Amendment) Law 2012.

“Do we need to remind Oyinlola that the edifice housing the centre was built with the state’s money too? What could therefore have prompted a decent man to want to appropriate a public property, if not avarice?

“Oyinlola should note that the choice of Soyinka was a well-thought out one, which shows the genuine commitment and determination of the present administration to the promotion of our peoples’ heritage. The choice is already generating unprecedented commendations as one that will enhance the profile of the centre and assist it realize its full potentials”, the statement stressed