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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A social political group, Osun Shall Rise Again (OSRA), has called for an investigation into the free train service for Osun indigenes from Lagos for the celebration of this year’s Easter.
The group alleged that the circumstances surrounding the operation of the train service last Thursday as claimed by the government suggested deceit and sharp practices by the handlers of the project and in the absence of clear evidence that the free train services were provided, there was the need to tell Osun people what transpired.
According to the group, facts and evidence never suggested that any free train service was offered in line with the tradition of the previous administration in the state.
“We, therefore express concern that there is the possibility that some individuals might have exploited the opportunity to corner the state resources in the name of free train service,” the group said.
OSRA in a statement by its State Secretary and Chairman, Saheed Bakare and Lanre Akeju said their investigation revealed that it was an empty train that arrived in Osogbo on Thursday without any passenger.
“We are compelled as a concerned social political organization working towards transparency in governance to call on Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke Jackson to carry out a full-scale investigation of the departure of Easter free Train Service from Lagos and its subsequent arrival in Osogbo on Thursday 6th of April 2023 following the controversy that trailed the gesture.
“For the first time since 2010, the Osun state government began the free train service, this is the first time the train will come to Osogbo empty. It is a free service that always attracts crowds and sea passengers from the Ido terminal in Lagos till arrival in Osogbo.
“But for this year’s Easter, according to a video that emanated from the office of the governor, less than 10 people were sighted for an interview at Ido terminal for media interview which appeared like a stage-managed and arranged interview. To our surprise when a train suddenly appeared in Osogbo, no passenger was sighted.
“We have a strong conviction that the free train service during the Easter period was not offered and we suspect deceit and sharp practices either by the political heads or the bureaucrats that implemented the programme and we call for a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“The outcome of the investigation will help Governor Adeleke to prevent a repeat of the scenario because the programme usually attracts huge patronage both in Lagos and Osun and we wondered why that of the administration of Governor Adeleke would be different.”
The group also asked the governor to disclose the total contract sum of the ongoing Borehole projects in the 332 wards of the state and the status of the project in the 30 local government areas.
