'I’m not afraid of EFCC' -Akala
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- Category: Politics
- Published on Thursday, 19 May 2011 12:58
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Outgoing Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday denied involvement in an N8 billion scam, saying he would go mad if he had access to such whopping sum of money.
Speaking in Ibadan, Alao-Akala declared that he was not moved by the widespread rumour that he would be summoned for probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after leaving office on May 29.
Alao-Akala who said he was not unaware that there would be series of allegations against his administration after his exit on May 29, warned journalists not to allow themselves be used by politicians to rubbish him, urging them to always cross-check their facts before publication.
In his valedictory message to the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the governor maintained that he had not done anything that would warrant EFCC inviting him for questioning let alone asking journalists to cover up such story.
Apparently referring to a recent newspaper publication that he was being haunted by the EFCC over an alleged involvement in over N8 billion scam and that he was one of the outgoing governors that might be summoned by the body after leaving office, the governor declared that, “I will go mad if I have access to such an amount of money. If they want to probe me, I am open to probe.”
He boasted that in the last four years, his government had undergone various developmental projects aimed at improving the living standard of the people of the state in line with the 13-point agenda of his administration.
“As a government, we have tried to put smiles on the faces of the people, we have added value and we can walk tall as a man who has done his best.
“We will allow posterity to judge us. We have been able to make a difference in many areas including agriculture, health, road construction and maintenance and many others.“We have delivered on our promises by adhering strictly to the 13-point agenda of this administration and with my philosophy of serving the people with the fear of God. The evidences are there for all to see but you cannot please all, which is why I want to urge you to feel free to cross-check from me or any of my aides any grey area before publication,” he said.
“I respect the tenet of your profession, which prescribes that you should leave out if in doubt and when it becomes necessary that you must publish, ensure that you balance your story by asking questions from me. My telephone numbers are still the same and I will gladly answer any question from you to clarify issues,” Akala assured. He also reiterated his belief in leaving behind a good name for his children, a philosophy he said had contributed to the way and manner he piloted the affairs of the state.
He words: “My name is my asset. I am using the name of my father, my children are using my name. I have tried as much as possible not to jeopardise the future of my children while in office because my father did not destroy the name for me. I will never do anything to destroy my father’s name.” (Daily Sun)
