The family of former Oyo state governor, Chief Kolapo Ishola have rejected the N25 million donation the Oyo State government offered to the family in order to give the late Ibadan politician a befitting burial.
The Ajimobi led government drew the ire of the family when it said that the family had come begging hand for the assistance of the state government after the death of the former governor.
In a statement released in Ibadan, the son of the deceased made it clear to all and sundry that at no time did the family act beggarly.
Kunle Ishola who spoke on behalf of the family said, “No such request was ever made, but, rather, the state government resolved by itself to offer the said sum as its contribution to the burial ceremony, after the family had completed arrangements for a befitting burial for our late father,” the statement read, adding that “we have resolved not to accede to the request to use Lekan Salami Stadium for the interdenominational service, but Liberty Stadium as originally intended on October 7, 2011 and hereby reject the offer of N25 million made to us as the government’s contribution to the burial.”
Meanwhile, the state government while reacting to the statement made by the Ishola family through the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, to the Governor, Dr Festus Adedayo said its offer to participate in the burial of the former governor was borne out of respect for him and the government’s appreciation of his contributions to the state.
Mr Adedayo further described the situation as unfortunate, stating also that the government was only extending its hand of fellowship in line with standards practiced worldwide. Saying the issue should not be misconstrued or politicised.
While commenting on the issue, Dotun Oyelade, the media aide to erstwhile governor of the state Adebayo Alao-Akala said that the Ishola's have shown that they can't be ridiculed by declining and not accepting the gratuitous Greek gift being dangled before the family by the state government.
It would be recalled that the elder statesman who died last month was the governor of the pace setter state between 1990 and 1992.
No comments:
Post a Comment