Osinbajo distanced himself from the controversial N250 million contract

Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has distanced himself from the controversial N250 million contract to construct a gate house at the official residence of the Vice President which is also known as Aguda House.

The Ag President through a statement from his office on Sunday said that the project did not originate from his desk or from that of President Muhammadu Buhari and as such, no budgetary provision was made for the project in the 2016 and 2017 budget.

Osinbajo said that the current state of Aguda House which is located within the premises of the presidential Villa, Abuja is befitting enough for human residence and also said he is contented with the building.

He stressed that any report about overheads on the project by him was misrepresented and insisted that the project had already been executed by the past administration.

However, according to the statement, on the 14 uncompleted buildings within the compound, the FG is still contemplating on what to do with them.

The statement reads:

“For the umpteenth time, we like to clarify that the proposed plan of the immediate past administration to build a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse preceded this administration.

“The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans.

“Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false.

“Besides, the incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said publicly that he considers Aguda House, which he currently occupies, a befitting official residence for the Vice President and sufficient for his needs.

“While the project is now about 85% complete, the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site?”