By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA— Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Wednesday, lost his temper over an allegation of N350 million Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC scandal, reported in a newspaper, describing his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel  and his aides as  pathological  thieves.

The allegation  which threw the governor off-the balance, during a town-hall  meeting to herald 2012 budget held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, triggered his rage making him declare that, Daniel lied by claiming that he left N49 billion as debt, saying that, his predecessor  stole  N87 billion when he was governor.

The offensive report alleged  that, Amosun was about to siphon N350 million  public fund  through procurement of  the 30 APC to combat crimes in the state.

Amosun had last week disclosed that, he would take delivery of 30 APC with  a unit  cost between N85million and N100 million, which was reacted  to by the newspaper, condemning the action, saying that, his predecessor had purchased  APC  per unit for N50 million  a few weeks before leaving office in May.

Amosun, who  was  answering a question after  he delivered  his speech on the 2012 budget, suddenly flared up  and  acussed  Daniel  of outrightly inflating prices of projects executed during his eight years tenure  by 50 per cent, saying, his predecessor  allegedly bought chlorine alum  for N145 per one, which he  is now buying  for N70 since he assumed office.

Amosun  stated “now I am going to tell our people today; what they stole was N87 billion, but the only reason why I didn’t want to bring this office into disrepute is when you look at how they stole those money, I am an accountant; it will bring all of them down.

“They are thieves, I am not. Even petroleum, I asked them, why are we paying this? And somebody told me that when we take this petrol, we take some to Maryland, we take another one to Ijebu–Ode, we take another one to Adeniyi Jones, we take some to Shagamu; they even take some to girl friend’s place. That was what they told me and I said no, no no, this must stop.

Because when you now say such things out, it brings that office into disrepute. It even brings out the faith of the people that are reading those things outside, it probably again, bring them into disrepute.

“They  said security, that we are inflating contract for the purchase of the APC security equipment. So let me make this comment for the sake of the report they have published and with all sense of responsibility. We are not thieves like them; they are thieves and I can say it again and again and again.”