For the umpteenth time, it is very imperative to clear some of the baseless impressions given in a rejoinder released by the Kwara State Sports Commission Chairman, Bola Magaji over our investigation on how the State Government released over N72 million for the renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall at the Kwara State Stadium Complex.
As a reputable medium, guided by the ethics of the Journalism profession, THE INFORMANT247 will never stoop so low to publish a story without facts and figures not even without getting all the needed reactions from parties involved to substantiate our claim.
The rejoinder, which failed to respond ‘constructively and convincingly’ to the investigation published has further shown how inept the current administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is in the management of state affairs.
It is gratifying to see that the Sports Commission confirmed the release of the money for the renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall in the financial statement – that enough has validated our investigation.
‘Only and One Indoor Sports Hall’
The Chairman of the Sports Commission acknowledged that there is only one Indoor Sports Hall at the stadium complex during our reporter’s interview with him – which is on record – and one would be surprised to see that the rejoinder he personally signed had to depict about four other facilities separately as Indoor Sports Hall – what a contrast!
The chairman, whose office is within the complex, even said and we quote: “If the Indoor Sports Hall has been renovated, will my office be like this?”
‘Omnibus title in budgeting’
The Chairman would have sought the help of financial experts in putting up the rejoinder, especially when you look at his explanation of omnibus in budgeting, a concept which he said is acceptable under the National Charts of Accounts.
Literarily and in this context, omnibus involves an all-encompassing activity on something without exception to any angle to which the activity is expected to cover.
It is however disingenuous of the Chairman to again be defending his unsubstantiated facts with the term given the fact that it has already been nullified by the addition of specificity to the rehabilitation title – in this case, the ‘Indoor Sports Hall’.
For instance, if the title of a project reads ‘rehabilitation of roads’ without any addition to it – one is expected to believe that rehabilitation of any road could fall under such category.
However, it is expected to be a different case in an event where we have ‘rehabilitation of roads –Ahmadu Bello Way’ as a title of a project. It would be totally wrong and absurd for anyone banking on omnibus heading to think that such renovation also covers or refers to Ibrahim Taiwo Road.
It is absolutely disappointing that of all the projects listed in the rejoinder released to the public, none of it is originally situated inside the Indoor Sports Hall, but are rather separate sporting facilities.
Of course, diverting funds meant for a project in the budget to another project is misappropriation and that is another serious crime and an impeachable offence under the law.
And that the public may want to believe, it would be discerning to conclude that the government has misappropriated the fund meant for the renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall.
In another instance, the Chairman who seems bereft of how budget is being put together would have taken a cue in another provision of the same 2021 financial statement where over N174 million was released for the provision of sporting facilities.
The generality of ‘provision of sporting facilities’ would better fit into the omnibus heading – and better served in the defense of the projects in question without equivocating the facts or justifying a baseless claim.
A balanced reportage, what more?
This medium at its best gave a fair hearing to all the parties concerned before the publication of the story – the best one could do.
Apart from the interview with the Chairman of Sports Commission, several efforts were made to reach the Commissioner for Finance and the former Permanent Secretary of the abrogated Ministry of Youth and Sports to get their reaction. Several phone calls were made and text messages sent – to no avail.
FOI Act?
It may also interest the public to know that the government of the day in Kwara state under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in its usual cunny way with support from the Kwara House of Assembly, has technically killed the domestication of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). Information requested through the Act has previously been denied by the government.
For the sake of transparency and accountability, this current administration would have better justified the confidence reposed in them by the electorates by domesticating the FOI acts in the State – the best Kwarans will appreciate on the heels of the mandate given to them in the last election.
Track records of lies!
As a reputable medium, it will also interest the public to know that some of our reports that were earlier denied and debunked by the current administration have been proven true.
Still fresh in our memories was how we scooped and revealed the secret appointment of Khadijatou Ba as the Economic Development Adviser to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Despite glaring evidence and the lady admitting to being the Governor’s adviser, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye debunked the report. That is how far the government of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq could go in defending their illegalities.
Ultimately, the general public will need more explanation from the government on how the said money was expended without having any justification to show for it.
Much more to that, we are also keen to know if there was a mistake in the financial statement as claimed by Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, Fafoluyi Olayinka Solace.
In addition, we would like to add that if investigating and exposing fraudulent activities of the government is tantamount to hurting public servants, then they should be ready for more.
Conclusively, we stand by our story that the state government renovated the Indoor Sports Hall with N72 million on record with nothing on the ground to show for it.
Signed:
THE INFORMANT247 LTD Management
