The political landscape in Osun State has been rocked by recent allegations from former local government chairmen who have publicly criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration for allegedly misusing N183 billion in federal allocations meant for the state’s 30 local government areas. The accusations come from officials who served under the previous government and claim that the current administration has violated the 1999 Constitution by withholding and spending these funds without democratically elected local government officials in place.
The ex-chairmen, led by Abiodun Owoeye, made these claims during a press conference in Osogbo, highlighting that the funds in question were allocations from the federal purse spanning from November 2022 to November 2024. They assert that these funds were supposed to be used for local development projects but have been instead squandered by the state government. “The Adeleke administration has received, spent, and/or tampered with funds released from the Federation Account, the sum of N183,196,629,321.19 standing to the credit of the 30 local government councils in Osun State,” Owoeye stated, emphasizing a breach of judicial decisions regarding local government funding.
In response to these allegations, the Osun State government has yet to provide an official statement. However, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Kolapo Alimi, has hinted at an upcoming detailed response, dismissing the accusations as mere propaganda and promising to present facts and figures to counter the claims.
The controversy has stirred significant debate among political analysts, residents, and opposition parties in Osun State. The All Progressives Congress (APC), under which the former chairmen served, has long accused the Adeleke administration of mismanaging state finances since taking office in November 2022. Conversely, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defended its governance, citing numerous infrastructure projects and financial management initiatives under Adeleke’s leadership.
This issue has also brought to light the broader problem of local government autonomy in Nigeria, where state governors often control local government finances, leading to tensions over the use and distribution of funds. The ex-chairmen’s call for an investigation by the Federal Government into the matter underscores a demand for accountability and transparency in how local government allocations are managed.
As this story unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Osun State government will address these allegations and what implications this might have for governance and political accountability in the state. The situation is being closely watched by political observers and could influence public opinion as the state prepares for future elections.