EKITI GROUP RAISES CONCERN OVER SALES OF ROMACO ASSETS
Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Ekiti State, the Ekiti Movement for Peace and Good Governance (MOPEGO) has raised concern over the sale of equipment owned by Ekiti State owned company, the Road Materials and Construction Company (ROMACO), Igbemo-Ekiti saying; “Governor Kayode Fayemi must explain to Ekiti people why he is selling their properties instead of adding to what he met on ground.”
The group alleged that all the equipments owned by ROMACO, which was established by the Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua-led government of the old Ondo State have been auctioned in a most questionable manner and were carted away between Wednesday, last week and Sunday, this week.
MOPEGO said in a statement jointly signed by the Coalition's Chairman, Dr Tunji Oluwasanmi, Secretary, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye and Director of Communications and Strategy, Gbenga Babawibe that it was strange that a governor, who said he planned to develop Ekiti State would auction equipment worth several billions of naira belonging to a company like ROMACO.
“We received with shock and disbelieve news that equipment belonging to ROMACO, Igbemo-Ekiti had been auctioned to cronies of Governor Fayemi. We never believed it to be true until we visited the company site at Igbemo-Ekiti.
“For the avoidance of doubts, ROMACO was concessioned to a private investor by the immediate past government of Chief Segun Oni and the company was already operational, with N56 million being paid to the government per annum.
“ROMACO was on the verge of commencing production of Asphalt when the Oni-led government was terminated, and Fayemi came and drove away the concessionaire.
“It is therefore amazing that equipment in a company that was already operational before Fayemi assumed office could be sold just like that!
“It is even more worrisome that the Fayemi-led government had to invade Igbemo-Ekiti with armed policemen to suppress agitation of the town's people against the shameless auction of the company's equipment,” the group said.
While demanding explanation from the Fayemi-led government over the illegal sales, MOPEGO said; “Ekiti people deserve to know what has happened to their properties. They must be told why the assets bequeathed to them from the old Ondo State are being sold by Fayemi.”