Senator Yayi Denies Diversion Of Ake Pavilion Project, Clarifies Signpost Inscriptions
ABEOKUTA – Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi has denied diverting the construction of Ake Pavilion situated within the Ake Palace ground in Abeokuta.
The Ake Pavilion is a personal project facilitated by former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun but was abandoned after leaving the senate in 2023.
However, the former governor had recently returned contractors to the site for the completion of the project apparently in commemoration of the Lisabi festival coming up on April 5.
Controversy, however, trailed the project when a signpost meant for a library project facilitated by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) at Ewang Estate in Abeokuta indicated that the Library project was meant for Ake Pavilion.
But a statement by Senator Ibikunle Amosun titled “Construction of Ake Pavilion Project by Senator Ibikunle Amosun: Setting the Record Straight”, implied that Senator Adeola diverted a project he facilitated for the renovation of Ake Pavilion to construction of a Library at Ewang Estate Extension in Abeokuta.
Senator Adeola Yayi, in a swift reaction, noted that there was no case of diversion of project as insinuated based on the inscription on the signpost at the completed Library project.
Yayi, in a rebuttal by his media aide, Chief Kayode Odunaro, explained that there was indeed a budget inclusion for the renovation of Ake Pavilion following appeals to him from well-meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that was seemingly abandoned for a period.
He maintained that at the point of appeals, he never knew the project was a personal project of Senator Amosun and his pledge to complete it in due course using his resources.
He posited that when he realized the involvement of Senator Amosun and the budget having been passed as stated in the project title, he immediately shied away from taking any glory from Senator Amosun good gesture to his community and inconjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development decided on the construction of a Library in Ewang Estate Extension with the available funds released for the project.
“As stated in the statement of Senator Amosun, the inscription on the project is “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and Other Facilities, Ogun State”. For those not conversant with budgetary terminologies, the wordings “and other facilities, Ogun State” shows that the project was NOT confined to Ake Pavilion alone.
“Indeed, it could include construction of roads, school, library, etc, in Ogun state as determined by the implementing agency and facilitator of the project in the budget based on availability of funds.
“On realization of the involvement of Senator Amosun and the budget having been passed as stated in the project title, Senator Adeola shied away from taking any glory from Senator Amosun good gesture to his community and in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development decided on the construction of a Library in Ewang Estate Extension with the available funds released for the project.
“Finally, there is nothing untoward in the inscription at the Library as that is what is contained in the ministry’s budget that was used to fund the project. It would have been otherwise if the signpost was placed at the Ake Pavilion under construction by Senator Amosun.
“There is no need for wiping up controversy on what is meant for educational development of Ogun State as Senator Adeola has facilitated similar projects at Ijebu Ode and elsewhere in Ogun state.”
