EXCLUSIVE: Oyo Water Corporation Boss Debunks Allegation By Opposition, Says Corporation Only Taking Inventory Of Assets

The Chairman of the Water Corporation of Oyo State, Dr. Adebayo Adepoju, has disclosed that that the corporation was only taking inventory of assets for accountability and transparency, contrary to the claims and allegation by the chieftain of Action Alliance, Alao Alao that the Agency was disposing the pipes at Asejire water scheme in Ibadan for selfish sake.

Adepoju revealed this while fielding questions with the newsmen in his office at the secretariat complex, Ibadan on Wednesday.

Adepoju reiterated that there was no record of illegal sale of assets at Oyo Water Corporation, adding that the corporation had only embarked on an inventory-taking and auditing so as to ensure, ascertain and account for all the assets of the corporation.

He said this contrary to claims and allegation by an opposition political party that the corporation was engaging in illegal sale of water pipes, adding that the corporation had only brought out the pipes in the scheme, which had laid fallow in the swamps, for proper counting, audit and accountability.

In his furtherance, he revealed that the claims credited to a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), were blackmails, unverified and cheapest publication aimed at denting his name and character.

Adepoju promised the people of pacesetter state that the corporation remained committed and dedicated to provision of potable water to residents and all inhabitants at the nooks and crannies of the state.

He noted that no amount of propaganda, defamatory and sensational statements would discourage the corporation from attaining the possibility of providing pipe born water for all.

According to his words, “the attention of the management and staff of the Water Corporation of Oyo State has been drawn to an online publication made by a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) on the alleged illegal sale of water pipes by the management of the Water Corporation”.

“While the corporation refutes the claim in its entirety, it has become extremely important to make this press release to keep the public well-informed”.

“A few months ago, a committee was set up to audit all the assets and take an inventory of the corporation”.

Its responsibility, among others, was to ascertain and account for all inventory and assets of the corporation for accountability”.

“The said pipes had been lying in the swamp for years, so they had to be brought out for proper counting, audit and accountability”.

“As a result of bringing out these pipes, there was an alarm that the pipes were being taken out for illegal sale”.

“The management had earlier followed up on all information received and moved to properly secure the assets. Some of the measures put in place include the replacement of the security outfit watching the scheme, the installation of solar powered security surveillance cameras that can be viewed both on site and remotely and completion of the perimeter fencing of the scheme”.

Adepoju revealed that the alarm and suspicion raised about illegal sale of pipes and the picture being circulated on the internet as portraying illegal sale were unfounded and propaganda of the highest order.

He added that the truck in the circulated picture was, indeed, that of those enlisted by the corporation to take the pipes from the swamps to another location for proper counting.

Having alerted about the alleged development, he said he contacted the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Operation Burst over the alarm raised by some persons that some pipes were being taken out of the scheme illegally.

Adepoju responded that the response from the JTF, which included the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA), was swift and they found out that the truck in the viral picture, which was seen by the men of the Operation Burst and OYRTMA, was, indeed, compelled by the corporation to lift the pipes out of the swamp to another location.

He said that the truck got stuck in the mud at the location, as that triggered OYRTMA taking their heavy-duty towing vehicle to bring out the truck.

He added that the picture taken at the location was being passed around, as indicating some people were trying to illegally sell state’s assets.

He said that the alarm would have been deemed unnecessary but for the fact that the operators of the vehicle were sighted at the swamp on a weekend, which might have facilitated the wrong signals to members of the public.

The Chairman, Water Corporation described the claim credited to AD chieftain over alleged illegal of pipes as frivolous and character assassinated story targeting to undermine his ever built name and integrity, reiterating that the claim was ill-motivated and conceived to dent his image and drag his integrity in the mud so as to score a political point.

He said, “We would like to state here that we appreciate the vigilance of the public. The corporation is determined to provide pipe borne water to all the citizens of the state and would leave no stone unturned in achieving this goal”.

“The current administration in the pacesetter ably led by Engr. Seyi Makinde is fully determined to ensure his governance is run on a note of honesty, transparency and accountability”.

“The government and the Water Corporation remain committed to resuscitating, maintaining and sustaining the water supply sector in the state, as the old pipes are being replaced at a dizzying pace across the state”.

Adepoju maintained that the concerted and relentless efforts have been expediting to ensure that the thirteen designated schemes across the pacesetter state provide potable and purified water to all and sundry.

He enjoined people in the state to be patient and ensured that the maximum cooperation and support are given to the corporation and Seyi Makinde’s led administration in order to actualise the purpose the government was brought on board.

The Chairman of the Water Corporation of Oyo State, Dr. Adebayo Adepoju, has disclosed that that the corporation was only taking inventory of assets for accountability and transparency, contrary to the claims and allegation by the chieftain of Action Alliance, Alao Alao that the Agency was disposing the pipes at Asejire water scheme in Ibadan for selfish sake.

Adepoju revealed this while fielding questions with the newsmen in his office at the secretariat complex, Ibadan on Wednesday.

Adepoju reiterated that there was no record of illegal sale of assets at Oyo Water Corporation, adding that the corporation had only embarked on an inventory-taking and auditing so as to ensure, ascertain and account for all the assets of the corporation.

He said this contrary to claims and allegation by an opposition political party that the corporation was engaging in illegal sale of water pipes, adding that the corporation had only brought out the pipes in the scheme, which had laid fallow in the swamps, for proper counting, audit and accountability.

In his furtherance, he revealed that the claims credited to a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), were blackmails, unverified and cheapest publication aimed at denting his name and character.

Adepoju promised the people of pacesetter state that the corporation remained committed and dedicated to provision of potable water to residents and all inhabitants at the nooks and crannies of the state.

He noted that no amount of propaganda, defamatory and sensational statements would discourage the corporation from attaining the possibility of providing pipe born water for all.

According to his words, “the attention of the management and staff of the Water Corporation of Oyo State has been drawn to an online publication made by a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) on the alleged illegal sale of water pipes by the management of the Water Corporation”.

“While the corporation refutes the claim in its entirety, it has become extremely important to make this press release to keep the public well-informed”.

“A few months ago, a committee was set up to audit all the assets and take an inventory of the corporation”.

Its responsibility, among others, was to ascertain and account for all inventory and assets of the corporation for accountability”.

“The said pipes had been lying in the swamp for years, so they had to be brought out for proper counting, audit and accountability”.

“As a result of bringing out these pipes, there was an alarm that the pipes were being taken out for illegal sale”.

“The management had earlier followed up on all information received and moved to properly secure the assets. Some of the measures put in place include the replacement of the security outfit watching the scheme, the installation of solar powered security surveillance cameras that can be viewed both on site and remotely and completion of the perimeter fencing of the scheme”.

Adepoju revealed that the alarm and suspicion raised about illegal sale of pipes and the picture being circulated on the internet as portraying illegal sale were unfounded and propaganda of the highest order.

He added that the truck in the circulated picture was, indeed, that of those enlisted by the corporation to take the pipes from the swamps to another location for proper counting.

Having alerted about the alleged development, he said he contacted the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Operation Burst over the alarm raised by some persons that some pipes were being taken out of the scheme illegally.

Adepoju responded that the response from the JTF, which included the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA), was swift and they found out that the truck in the viral picture, which was seen by the men of the Operation Burst and OYRTMA, was, indeed, compelled by the corporation to lift the pipes out of the swamp to another location.

He said that the truck got stuck in the mud at the location, as that triggered OYRTMA taking their heavy-duty towing vehicle to bring out the truck.

He added that the picture taken at the location was being passed around, as indicating some people were trying to illegally sell state’s assets.

He said that the alarm would have been deemed unnecessary but for the fact that the operators of the vehicle were sighted at the swamp on a weekend, which might have facilitated the wrong signals to members of the public.

The Chairman, Water Corporation described the claim credited to AD chieftain over alleged illegal of pipes as frivolous and character assassinated story targeting to undermine his ever built name and integrity, reiterating that the claim was ill-motivated and conceived to dent his image and drag his integrity in the mud so as to score a political point.

He said, “We would like to state here that we appreciate the vigilance of the public. The corporation is determined to provide pipe borne water to all the citizens of the state and would leave no stone unturned in achieving this goal”.

“The current administration in the pacesetter ably led by Engr. Seyi Makinde is fully determined to ensure his governance is run on a note of honesty, transparency and accountability”.

“The government and the Water Corporation remain committed to resuscitating, maintaining and sustaining the water supply sector in the state, as the old pipes are being replaced at a dizzying pace across the state”.

Adepoju maintained that the concerted and relentless efforts have been expediting to ensure that the thirteen designated schemes across the pacesetter state provide potable and purified water to all and sundry.

He enjoined people in the state to be patient and ensured that the maximum cooperation and support are given to the corporation and Seyi Makinde’s led administration in order to actualise the purpose the government was brought on board.