Senator Ibikunle Amosun Responds to Professor Pat Utomi's Criticisms

 

Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has responded to criticisms from Professor Pat Utomi, a prominent political economist. The exchange began after Utomi alleged on social media that Amosun had failed to honor an agreement made before his administration.

In his rebuttal, Amosun accused Utomi of harboring an entitlement mentality, suggesting that Utomi's comments stemmed from frustration over Amosun's refusal to be unduly influenced. He emphasized that the Ogun State House of Assembly had previously declared Utomi a persona non grata and labeled him an enemy of the state due to his involvement in questionable business deals within Ogun State.

"Before I took office, the Ogun State House of Assembly had already passed a resolution declaring Utomi persona non grata and documented it in the state's records," Amosun explained. "Out of curiosity, I reached out to Utomi to understand the issue. This was entirely my initiative; he did not approach me."

Amosun recounted a specific incident involving a controversial construction project on an Ogun State property in Lagos. "Utomi mentioned an ongoing construction on a property that had sparked controversy. I sent a team to assess the situation, and they reported that the construction was inappropriately located in the car park of the property. Despite suggesting alternative locations, Utomi insisted on the original site due to its visibility," Amosun stated.

Upon visiting the site, Amosun's team estimated the construction costs at N35 million to N50 million, far below Utomi's claim of N200 million. "In a gesture of goodwill, I offered to reimburse N100 million, but Utomi persistently demanded N200 million. He even attempted to sway me by offering an award through his Center for Value in Leadership (CVL)," Amosun revealed.

Amosun declined the award but attended the CVL Solution Conference Series at Utomi's insistence. However, his stance on the reimbursement remained unchanged. "Utomi's complaints to others about me were an attempt to malign my character. When I confronted him, he responded with a sense of entitlement, boasting about his status," Amosun said.

The former governor challenged journalists to visit the construction site and evaluate Utomi's N200 million investment claim. "It's essential to scrutinize the supposed benefits this project would have brought to Ogun State," he added.

Amosun concluded by reiterating his commitment to equitable governance. "For Nigeria to progress, the same laws must apply to everyone, regardless of status, religion, or tribe. Leaders should be held accountable, and the public must resist being misled by misinformation and false narratives," he stated.

Amosun's remarks underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in governance while addressing the underlying issues in his dispute with Utomi.