A PDP stalwart and the chairman of the Oyo State Pacesetter Transportation Service Company, Dare Adeleke, has refuted the story published by an online news platform, Sahara Reporters.
Recall that SaharaReporters had earlier reported that 22 brand new vehicles purchased by the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi were sold off by Adeleke.
In his response made available to Freelanews, Adeleke revealed that it was disappointing to note that the controversial media platform threw caution and ethics into the winds just to dance to the tunes of opposition to spoil his name.
“It is with dismay and disappointment that we read a news report published by Sahara Reporters, accusing my humble self of allegedly selling 20 buses as scrap to spare parts dealers.
“We wonder what has happened to investigative journalism.
“Does it mean that any deranged person can write a petition and take it to a reporter to publish?
“It would have been expected that a reputable organisation such as the Sahara Reporters will go beyond an obvious news bait concocted by political enemies and done a thorough investigation before going to press,” he wrote.
He, however, informed the Sowore-owned news platform of his readiness to clear the air if the media organisation is willing to hear his side of the story to protect the sanity of the respected profession.
“While we are still available for a balanced reportage of the truth, let us try to put some facts straight for everyone concerned, including Sahara Reporters.
“The administration has increased the profitability of Pacesetter Transport Service and increased the number of operational vehicle in PTS from the 22 buses it met on ground, to over 50 vehicles in just two years,” he revealed.
The Oyo State media aide reiterated that the activities of the PTS is well regulated and followed due process.
“The Oyo State Pacesetter Transportation Service Company has a full functional Board of Directors under myself as the chairman and the board follows all due process in administering its activities.
“The purported report of sales of scrap by the opposition party using their agents and cronies to distract the administration of PDP in the state is nothing but a lie, a smokescreen, a case of crying wolf where there is none.
“It is not a new thing for obsolete and unserviceable buses to be sold but due process must be followed. However, we must remind the detractors that this administration has increased both in value and income and the fortune of Pacesetter transport services has never been so prosperous,” he stated.
Adeleke also revealed that the last administration for reasons known to them purchased buses with scarce spare parts which made the administration to consider selling some of them off to Primero, a company incidentally owned by a member of an opposition party in the state.
“In spite of the challenges of spare parts of the Daewoo buses processed by the last administration which warranted the attempt to sell them off to Primero, a company owned by an APC stalwart, the Makinde administration turned the fortune of the company around by investing in spare parts to bring back over 30 grounded buses and continue to maintain the 20 operational buses it met on ground.
“FGMC’s have increased their patronage of the company as corporate organizations like Coca-Cola has increased usage of PTS buses as staff buses and likewise. ROM Oil & Extreme manufacturing Company are using eight of our buses while Oriental and Global Manufacturing company are using three buses.
“The increase in quality of our services has continued to attract religious and social cultural groups for chartered services of our buses on a regular basis.
“Despite the fact that PTS does not receive monthly subversions, the company pays her staff salaries on the 25th of every month and just like the state government, the staff received their last salaries on the 18th of July due to the Sallah festival. Likewise for the first time in seven years, the staff of the company enjoyed promotion nominally and financially,” he submitted.
The chairman of Oyo Pacesetters Transport Company therefore urged the opposition to dumped the politics of hatred and collaborate with the government in moving the state forward.
“We, therefore, wish to inform political jobbers disguising as staff of PTS to join hands and embrace developmental politics in Oyo State. Our premises are open to Sahara Reporters or any other reporter who may want to report facts, rather than brandishing speculations,” he wrote.
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