An aide to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Revenue Matters, Akosile Stella, has slammed a former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, over a comment on Osun State Internally Generated Revenue.
Henzodaily reports that Reno, via a post on his X handle, wrote, “Please Fact-Check me. In two weeks, Wizkid’s Morayo album has generated more revenue than the total Internally Generated Revenue raised by Osun State in 2023.”
However, Akosile, in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday, described Omokri’s remark as untrue, stating it is unfair to compare Nigerian singer, Wizkid, whose fan base is global, to Osun State, whose residents are the source of its IGR.
Akosile maintained that since the inception of Adeleke’s tenure, the revenue of the State has seen a year-on-year increase from 9.7% increase in 2022 to 13.5 and 46% increase in 2023 and 2024, respectively and a 82% increase since 2021.
According to the governor’s aide, Reno can no longer make logical arguments since he has been out of political office.
The statement read, “It may be difficult for Mr Reno Omokri to know how 46 and 82% percent was arrived at, but critical thinkers and every other Nigerian knows data can be extrapolated.
“Reno Omokri is comparing Apples with Oranges. Wizkid’s audience is all over the world and not Osun State residents only, and its even a person that is not able to think deep that will make such a comparison, Christiano Ronaldo and Messi earns 213 and 130 million USD respectively yearly that’s about 583 billion Naira, So Mr Reno Omokri will Say Christiano Ronaldo and Messi should come to Nigeria to teach about 25 States whom their yearly Independent Revenue is not up to 581 billion how to generate IGR. Similarly Jon Rahm despite not winning any tournament is the highest paid golfer 2024 (Forbes) with $218 million earnings, this is greater than Self employed taxes of all states in Nigeria including Lagos from 2019 till date.
“It is extremely funny that Reno is not able to make logical arguments again since he has been out of political office rather chose to settle for illogical half statements in a bid to ride on Wizkid recently released album to attempt to gain relevance”.