Chairman of the Kwara State Assets Panel of Inquiry, retired Justice Olabiyi Orilonishe, on Wednesday, declared that discoveries made during their assignment, showed that “The state was milked to complete hopelessness and standstill” by the previous administrations.
Presenting the three-volume report of the panel to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in Ilorin, Justice Orilonise, said many policies related to sale, or, management of public assets “offered avenues for reckless expenditure to enrich some individuals.”
He lamented that the state, owing largely to such practices, is less developed of the 12 states created in 1967.
“This sad situation must change,” the chairman stated, adding that, “The time to change it is now and not later.”
Justice Orilonise urged Abdulrazaq administration to muster the political will and courage to challenge some of the actions, while only those found to be in order should stand.
The report is divided into three volumes, comprising the main report and recommendations, exhibits, minutes of meetings and visitation report.
The panel visited Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna in the course of its assignment.
It observed during the assignment that “The sales of several public properties were often done in ‘secrecy’ with only a few officials being privy to the deals.”
Governor Abdulrazaq, while commending the panel for its patriotic duties to the state, said “the need to visit the past, was not to hound anyone, but to ensure that such mistakes, or, excesses are not committed in the future.”
According to him, the revelations so far from the past, were enough reasons for the present public officials to act properly in the handling of public resources.
He assured that “Essentially, justice will be done for the state,” adding that “You have done a very good job for the state and we are happy to receive the report.”
The panel was set up on August 11, 2020, to investigate the sales, disposal or unlawful acquisition of government properties from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2019.
