By Noah Nobert
Ex Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, may be heading for a collision, regarding the handling of Ilesa Water project, the biggest single contract awarded by the Aregbesola administration.
Aregbesola is said to be displeased with Adeleke following damage done to the underground pipes laid for the water project by the contractor handling the Ilesa Roundabout/Brewery dualisation.
The ex governor, it was learnt, sent people to Adeleke to complain about the damage done to the pipes by the contractor, yet not action was taken to correct the anomaly.
When this medium visited the construction site, many of the pipes removed by the contractors to pave way for the dualisation were observed beside the road.
In some places along the road, the underground pipes removed by the contractors had been turned to chairs by people, who are sitting on them to observe the construction work going on.
Displeased by the way the construction work had impacted negatively on the project he initiated, Aregbesola, reportedly complained to Adeleke, warning him against act tantamount to destruction of his legacy.
“But despite making promises to relate the complaints to the contractor, Adeleke never did, setting the two men up for serious fight. If you recall, Aregbesola fought his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola for erasing his legacies as governor.
“Aregbesola is known as someone that would not take such a wilful act of destruction so lightly. Ilesa Water Project is almost becoming a stillborn despite immense resources that had gone into it.
“Federal Government and Islamic Development Bank are providing funding alongside Osun State Government. Aregbesola wasted several billion on it. Oyetola inherited it but could not do much because the Consultant in-charge, Tawakalitu Williams was at loggerhead with the House of Assembly.
“Adeleke, rather than paying attention to the project has chosen not to. He is even destroying work done by his predecessor. Aregbesola and his men are ready to go to serious battle with Adeleke over the issue,” a Director in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor craving anonymity had said.
