Afrigather 
Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday, mentioned the rationale famend Professor of Political Financial system, Pat Utomi, posted some snide remarks about him on X was as a result of he refused to feed his entitlement mentality or honour indecent affect peddling, as governor of Ogun State.
Amosun, who disclosed this whereas responding to a publish on X, the place Utomi alleged that he didn’t honour an settlement previous his administration, additionally hinted that the Ogun State Home of Meeting had already declared Utomi persona non grata and described him as an enemy of state on account of his predilection for shoddy enterprise offers within the state.
In his concise response to the Utomi diatribe, Amosun defined that, “Earlier than I got here into workplace, the Ogun State Home of Meeting had handed a private non grata on Utomi, and put its decision within the state’s black e-book.
“So, I used to be curious once I turned governor and referred to as Utomi to ask what the problem was. This was completely at my discretion and never as a result of he reached out to me. However I reckoned that as one with a point of name-recognition, that shouldn’t be, and I needed to know what occurred.
“He, nonetheless, instructed me, amongst different issues, that there was an ongoing building in an Ogun State property that had change into controversial.
“I instantly raised a workforce for verification and to know what to do. The workforce I despatched mentioned the land was inappropriate as a result of the mentioned building was being executed within the automobile park of the Ogun property on Mobolaji Financial institution Anthony Street in Lagos State. My workforce then steered some other place.
“However he didn’t need one other place as a result of, in keeping with him, the place in query gave extra visibility. After our in-house evaluation, my workforce concluded he couldn’t have spent greater than N35m or at most, N50m on the development as of then. At that time, I made a decision to go to myself.
“As well as, it was found that the so-called work executed was hurriedly executed within the wake of the realisation that one other political social gathering had gained the governorship election and would take over the reins of management within the state.
“It was additionally apparent that what was being tried was a transfer at ambushing the state authorities below my watch and presenting us with a Fait Accompli, a state of affairs that will have generated an issue about demolition of an on-going mission.
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“Simply in order that his funding within the state wouldn’t go to waste, I dedicated to creating a refund of N100 million as in opposition to his declare of N200 million. He pressured me ceaselessly to pay him N200 million, however I didn’t yield.
“As a part of his dedication to sway me, he deployed his Centre for Worth in Management, CVL, by way of the instrumentality of an Award. At first, all of it seemed curious that I’d simply been in workplace for about two years, and right here I used to be being given an award, so I rejected it.
“However he insisted that I honour his CVL SOLUTION CONFERENCE SERIES with my presence, which I did, and I used to be given a plague for collaborating. However I didn’t change my place on the refund of N100 million as in opposition to his N200 million declare.
“Just a few years later, he complained to some individuals with the only real intent to malign me. Once I heard, I referred to as to inform him off as a result of his downside was purely one in every of entitlement mentality. He even boasted, asking me: ‘Have you learnt who I’m?’ Think about! However I ignored him as a result of I instantly noticed by way of his true color. In my e-book, it’s one regulation for everybody, irrespective of who you’re.
“I problem everybody, together with journalists, to allow us to meet on the building web site and see the N200 million funding he claimed to have made there. Allow them to additionally ask what profit the mission would have been to Ogun State.
“No one can speak me down in an effort to look good. I served Ogun State passionately with all my strengths, and I did with my shoulders excessive. I stand by each determination I took, whether or not or not individuals like Pat Utomi have been in settlement with me.
“Utomi is aware of his case didn’t even have any legs to face on. He isn’t totally different from Zhongfu Worldwide Funding FXE. He is aware of he can’t lay claims to any lawful harm executed to his funding. All he has tried to do is a ‘me too’, which could be very disgraceful.”
The previous governor, nonetheless, contended that, for “Nigeria to change into a greater nation, one regulation have to be utilized to each Nigerian, no matter your standing, faith, or tribe”, insisting that “if Nigerians really need an excellent nation, they need to maintain their leaders accountable for each motion. However, if Nigerians enable individuals to hoodwink them with misinformation, mischaracterisation, and doubtful tales by moonlight, it is going to be unlucky.”
Senator lbikunle Amosun CON, FCAGovernor, Ogun State (2011-2019), Senator, Ogun Central Senatorial District (2003-2007 and 2019-2023)
