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……Say traditional institutions, rural communities badly hit
Traditional rulers in Osun State under the aegis of the Osun Council of Obas have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently wade into the lingering crisis surrounding the non-release of local government allocations in the state.
They warn that the development has crippled grassroots governance and threatened the survival of the traditional institution.
Rising from a meeting at the Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, and chaired by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the monarchs lamented that the prolonged withholding of funds had grounded activities across the 30 local government areas and the area office.
They claim it is having dire consequences on rural communities and local development.
The monarchs, while noting that traditional rulers are natural custodians and closest to the people, stressed that their ability to serve their communities effectively is tied to the functionality of local governments.
“As purely apolitical fathers of the land, we are not interested in the politics, individual differences or whatever could be responsible for the seizure of the local government allocations.
“Our interest is to see a working society and functional local government for the benefit of all, especially the vulnerable individuals across our communities,” the Council stated.
They explained that traditional rulers nationwide rely on the statutory five percent deduction from local government allocations to support their roles in peacebuilding, rural mobilization, and community development.
“It amazes us daily to see secretariats that have suddenly become inactive because allocations meant for their smooth running have been withheld for several months, over issues that have nothing to do with the common people currently suffering the brunt.
“Our markets, community roads, and other responsibilities of the local government are suffering badly, and we as traditional rulers cannot pretend not to see these rots,” the statement added.
The council therefore called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene to resolve the crisis, stressing that such a move would not only restore life to grassroots governance but also energize the traditional institution to complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The monarchs expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions and rural development and urged him to act swiftly in the interest of Osun citizens.
“We will be glad if Mr President can hear the cries of community dwellers across our farmlands and villages, suffering hugely from the total deactivation of local government activities for several months,” the Ooni of Ife, HIM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II who signed the statement on behalf of the kings declared.
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