03/04/2020
*_PRESS RELEASE_*
SUBJECT: *RE; SPONSORED ATTACKS ON HON TUNJI AKINOSI*
1. The Ogun State Ministry of Forestry notes with great concern, the recent spate of sponsored attacks both online and in the mainstream media on its top functionaries.
2. Doubtless, the Governor of Ogun State, H.E. Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, and his Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of forestry, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, as well as all personnels in the Ministry are well aware of the very high stakes involved in the state's forestry sector.
3. While appreciating the house of assembly led by Rt Hon Kunle Oluomo for their understanding and support, we put it on record here and now that as a Ministry, we accord the OGHA every esteem of regards deserving of a parliament.
4. However, deeply entrenched vested interests that have for decades fed fat on the common patrimony of the people of Ogun State, have rapaciously been stripping the forestry sector of its core assets. Dislodging these interests cannot but invite the kinds of heightened attacks that are now being witnessed.
5. It is unfortunate that at a critical moment in our lives when everyone is battling the COVID-19 scourge in our state and country, a faceless, mischievous and misguided person is sowing the seeds of discord in our beloved state and party.
Refusing to dignify these spurious allegations by the known economic saboteurs with any response would have been an option. However, we reckon that a lie told repeatedly and unchallenged may be believed by the ignorant and undiscerning as the truth.
These attacks on the staff and management of the Ministry of forestry is a tool for fanning the embers of discord, by evoking disunity in the cordial relationship between the Legislature and the executive.
However it is our responsibility to set the records straight.
6. The online diatribe authored by one *Mr Odunaike,* whom we consider faceless and a psuedonym, are false and figments of his imagination, and we dare say unequivocally that the pseudo is a paid agent whose post will NOT deter our effort to reposition the forestry sector, and remove the rot therein.
7. We challenge the faceless Odunaike to produce proofs of the three (3) OGHA invitations/reminders, as well as the so called verbal attack on the chairman House committee on Forestry.
8. The truth behind the fightbacks being engaged by faceless Odunaike and his sponsors is simply that since the states' forest reserves were closed in September 2019 due to log illegal fellings, The illegalities continue recklessly with perpetrators even carrying arms. One Alhaji Aliu, whose hammer was consequently withdrawn by the ministry of Forestry for being a part of illegal fellings made no pretence on his readiness to fight back. The last logs he stole are at lat 4 in ijebu igbo.
9. We are aware that these corrupt individual and others, along with their agents/god fathers will ceaselessly step up their fightback strategies, as done in this written diatribe. But we are undeterred.
10. We want the people of the State to be assured that Government is determined to reclaim for the State and its people, their rights of beneficial control over the state's resources, forestry inclusive.
11. This administration shall neither waver nor flinch in the face of attacks mounted by vested interests who are now turning themselves into enemies of the people.
Signed:
Mr. Lateef Adebola Benson,
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Forestry.
