Amosun Dismisses Pat Utomi's Claims, Labels Him as Having an 'Entitlement Mentality'

 

Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has pushed back against recent comments made by political economist Professor Pat Utomi, who linked the recent seizure of Nigerian presidential jets to what he described as “karma” for breaches of contract that occurred under Amosun’s administration. Amosun, however, has strongly refuted Utomi's claims, accusing him of harboring an "entitlement mentality" and attempting to leverage influence inappropriately.

Background: Utomi's Allegations

The controversy began when Professor Pat Utomi, a well-known political economist, criticized Amosun for allegedly violating a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement that had been established during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel. Utomi claimed that his agreement to lease land from the Ogun State Property & Investment Corporation (OPIC) in Lagos was abruptly halted when Amosun assumed office, a move Utomi described as a breach of contract and linked to the international embarrassment of the recent jet seizures.

ALSO READ: Pat Utomi: Seizure of Presidential Jets is 'Karma' for Contract Violations by Former Ogun Governor Amosun

Amosun’s Response: Rejection of Entitlement and Influence Peddling

In a detailed response, Amosun explained that Utomi’s accusations were baseless and motivated by a sense of entitlement. He revealed that before he even took office, the Ogun State House of Assembly had already declared Utomi "persona non grata" and had placed him in the state's black book for what they described as "shoddy business deals."

Amosun recounted his own investigation into the matter after becoming governor. He stated that he had reached out to Utomi out of curiosity, not because Utomi had approached him, to understand the issue. According to Amosun, Utomi explained that there was an ongoing construction project on an Ogun State property in Lagos that had become controversial.

Amosun noted that after sending a team to assess the situation, they found that the construction was being done on a car park at the Ogun State property on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road in Lagos. The team recommended that the project be relocated to a more appropriate site, but Utomi refused, citing the visibility of the current location as a key advantage.

Financial Discrepancy and Influence Attempts

Amosun disclosed that after a thorough evaluation, his team estimated that the construction work could not have exceeded N35 million to N50 million at that time. He then personally visited the site and concluded that the project had been hastily executed in anticipation of a change in government, with the intention of putting the incoming administration in a difficult position.

To resolve the matter, Amosun offered to refund N100 million, significantly less than Utomi's claim of N200 million. Utomi allegedly exerted pressure on Amosun to pay the full amount, even attempting to sway the former governor by involving his organization, the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), and offering Amosun an award, which the governor initially declined.

Despite this, Amosun eventually attended a CVL event and received a plaque, but he remained steadfast in his decision to only refund N100 million, refusing to yield to what he perceived as undue influence.

Amosun Stands by His Decisions

Amosun further challenged Utomi to provide evidence of his claimed N200 million investment, inviting the media to visit the construction site and assess the value of the work done. He insisted that the project held little benefit for Ogun State and reiterated that he would not be swayed by any attempts to undermine his administration’s decisions.

He also drew parallels between Utomi’s situation and the case of Zhongfu International Investment FXE, the Chinese company involved in the dispute that led to the jet seizures. Amosun argued that both cases lacked merit and were part of a broader attempt to manipulate the situation for personal gain.

One Law for All Nigerians

Concluding his statement, Amosun emphasized that for Nigeria to progress, the law must be applied equally to all citizens, regardless of their status, religion, or tribe. He defended his tenure as governor, stating that he served Ogun State with dedication and integrity, and that he stands by every decision he made, regardless of whether it was popular or not.

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