By Steve Oni, Ilorin

 

 The report of the Kwara state Assets Commission of Inquiry has revealed how several of the government properties disposed by the past administrations were undervalued and sold at giveaway prices, saying deliberate policies were made to enrich some individuals and syphon money from the state.

Presenting the three-volume report to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Ilorin, the state capital, Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice Olabanji Orilonishe said discoveries during their assignment showed that the state was "milked to complete hopelessness and a standstill.” 

He said: "Many policies related to sale or management of public assets offered avenues for reckless expenditure to enrich some individuals, and owing largely to such practices, the state is the least developed of the 12 states created in 1967. 

“This sad situation must change. The time to change it is now and not later. I therefore urge the new administration to muster the political will and courage to challenge some of the actions while only those found to be in order should stand."

The report, divided into three volumes, comprises the main report and recommendations; exhibits; and minutes of meetings and visitation report.

The panel, which visited Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna in the course of its assignment, observed in part of the report that the sales of several public properties were often done in “secrecy” with only a few officials being privy to the deals.

AbdulRazaq commended the panel for their patriotic duties to the state, saying nothing can compensate for their sacrifices.

He said the need to visit the past was not to hound anyone but to ensure that such mistakes or excesses are not committed in the future, adding that the revelations so far from the past were enough reasons for the present public officials to act properly in the handling of public resources.

 “Essentially, justice will be done for the state. You have done a very good job for the state and we are happy to receive the report. On our part, we did not interfere in any way or manner in the way you did your job. We are not out to witch-hunt anybody. We just want the right thing to be done in the state and we want proper templates set so that in future such things do not reoccur. We will also learn from this so that we don't do the same thing. 

"We appreciate you for the work you have done. I can assure you that your work is not in vain. Financially, we cannot pay you for what you have done, especially with the time line within which you have done the work. It is an assignment that ordinarily should take a whole year. We are grateful.”

 The governor inaugurated the panel on August 11 to investigate the sales, disposal or unlawful acquisition of government properties from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2019.