Our attention has been drawn to a publication currently on social media where libelous allegations were made against the Osun State ministry of Commerce, Industry, Co-operative and Empowerment which has compelled us to respond so as to correct the misrepresentation and misinformation contained therein.
In the publication, It was alleged that, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment had subdue a company from either the operational or non-operational facilities at the Nigerian Railway(Nelson Mandela Park), thereby making the place unkempt.
We wish to inform the general public to dispel the misinformation by the President of World Institute of Peace, Mr Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi.
For the good of putting records straight in the consideration of the public court to which you have brought the matter in subject, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment wish to clear certain personality smearing claims and statements put forward in your unresearched and uninvestigated allegations.
Taking cue from several research institutes that we are familiar with, it is believed that a member of an institute should be knowledgeable to understand that only verifiable and confirmed information/data only will be good for publication (meaning to make public) less a material from a claimed World Institute for Peace.
First, let it be disproved that the State Government of Osun did not consummate any agreement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation on the Mandela Freedom Park. Every activities/spendings of government were based on nothing than fanfare. Since you cannot give what you do not have, the Locus Standi for the Ministry of Commerce to reallocate the park to a third party is a nullity. So for any claim of subdueing anybody or in person of Mr. Sola Oladepo by the Ministry of Commerce Boss is unfounded. So, by law, the Ministry or State of Osun, until a proper agreement is signed between parties concerned does not have a claim over Freedom Park. NRC unilaterally took their decision to operate their facility themselves since there is no such binding document to that effect.
Secondly, the Mandela Park is divided into two, the Operational area and the non-operational. The Building and the tarmac is the operational area managed by Mr. Sola Oladepo, which he still manages till date, except the tarmac taken over by the railway for reasons bothering on non-formal take over, and financial remittance between the handlers and Railway. The non-operational comprises of the gardens and parks managed by a single company – Bristol (Otunba Ayodele) which is still on ground in the park, doing what its capacity can accommodate.
Suffice to adduce from your letter on the Facebook and social media that you are either not well informed before publishing your letter or an outrightly mischievous attempt to smear certain personalities on the altar of taking side unwarrantedly with a side to which you owe an allegiance, or you are paid to rubbish the new order of accountability being established in the management of the park.
Please note that:
1. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment did not subdue or sack anyone or company from either the operational or non-operational facilities at the Nigerian Railway. You are only calling the dog a bad name in order to hang it.
2. The State Government is already in a renewed relationship with the NRC to properly and sustainably work together on both the operational and non-operational facilities of the railway, which would be concluded as soon as all issues are laid to rest including huge financial burden inherited.
3. As we all know the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola to be a detailed and thorough leader, all drawings and documents required for a befitting and sustainable park are currently being reviewed with the NRC for finalisation.
4. Mr. Sola Oladepo never managed the parks and Gardens, he only manages the hotel even till now, the tarmac withdrawn from his company by NRC (and not Ministry of Commerce) had issues of non-promptness in remittances between the State, NRC and the Company handling. Also, the handlers of the park and gardens are still on ground.
5. What the Ministry of Commerce has refused to do is to continue to look away from anomalies that had held sway in both the acquisition and management of the facility. If a facility is tagged to the State, such must truly be state supervised and not the other way round. The State cannot take responsibility for what it has not signed on.
6. World Institute for Peace and its officials should present facts that are informed, unbiased and patriotic and not facts based of personal relationship, hearsay, clienteilism or patronage.
We thank you.
Signed:
Ministry of Commerce,
State of Osun.
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