A former Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of crippling the local government system in the state.
Speaking at a media parley organized by the Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA), themed “Digging into Politics, Governance and Dividends”, in Osogbo on Tuesday, Adeleke criticized the current administration’s approach to local governance.
Responding to questions on local government autonomy, he asserted that autonomy has become a permanent feature of Nigeria’s political landscape. He alleged that unlike the previous administration led by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, which he claimed did not interfere with local government allocations, the current administration is diverting funds meant for grassroots development.
“During my tenure as commissioner, former Governor Oyetola never tampered with local government funds. But this government is spending those allocations, thereby depriving communities of growth and development,” he said.
“That’s why the governor is preventing the reinstatement of All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen from returning to their offices.”
Adeleke further accused the governor of orchestrating manipulated local government elections, arguing that Governor Adeleke’s stance against local government autonomy is evident in his participation in the legal challenge against it.
“Governor Adeleke is opposed to true local government autonomy. That’s why he oversaw a manipulated, illegal election at the local level. Osun is among the states where governors are unlawfully withholding council funds, violating Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution,” he alleged.
He also leveled accusations of financial mismanagement against the Adeleke-led administration, citing a sharp increase in the budget for the Ministry of Youth and Sports — from N2 billion in 2022 to N13 billion in 2023 — as an example.
Criticizing the state’s infrastructure projects, Adeleke questioned the integrity of road constructions such as the Old Garage-Lameco Road.
“You’re doing flashy roads just to deceive the people of Osun. Under Oyetola, we executed road projects quietly and effectively. Now, they’re bringing in ex-leaders to commission incomplete projects,” he claimed.
He added that many residents affected by road expansion demolitions, particularly in Lameco and Ilesa, are still awaiting compensation despite repeated promises from the state government.
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