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Governor Adeleke Raises Alarm Over Illegal Hijack, Diversion of LG Fund
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By Sola Isola
Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke has raised alarm over what he described as an illegal hijack and diversion local government fund by APC Yes/No Chairmen.
The Governor in a statewide broadcast recently alleged former Governor Gboyega Oyetola of aiding the action by cornering UBA to illegally divert local government fund into individual accounts as well as using security operative to illegally hold down local government secretariats.
He added that the local government statutory allocation is the primary source for the remuneration of primary school teachers, nurses, and other health workers, all local government workers, the traditional councils and retirees in each local government adding that his administration has continued to shoulder this responsibility despite the embargo placed on fund for one year.
He said, “It is deeply unfortunate that former Governor Gboyega Oyetola has chosen to weaponize federal institutions, particularly the Nigerian Police Force. He has equally applied the same approach to the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) to impose hardship and suffering on the good people of Osun State through alleged illegal instructions.
“As you are aware, since February 2025, statutory allocations to Osun State local governments have been withheld. As of the last FAAC meeting, a total of One Hundred and Thirty Billion Naira of our local government funds is being illegally withheld by the Federal Government.
Attempts were made to divert those funds through accounts opened with United Bank for Africa (UBA) by people not authorized by law to be signatories to local government funds.
“What I do not understand is why a reputable international bank like UBA has allowed itself to be used to break our laws and permit people who are not recognized by law to be signatories to Osun State local government accounts, after it has been advised on those whom the law says can be signatories to these accounts.
“Can UBA wilfully break the laws of New York State or the laws of the City of London where it operates? The answer is a CAPITAL NO.
“But as far as they are concerned, this is Nigeria, where our laws can be trampled upon without consequence, as long as they are allegedly breaking the law to satisfy former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
“I want to inform the good people of Osun State that those senior managers in UBA who aided and abetted the opening of Osun State local government accounts by people not allowed by law are already facing criminal prosecution before our courts.
“The local government statutory allocation is the primary source for the remuneration of primary school teachers, nurses, and other health workers at the 332 health care centres in Osun State, all local government workers, the traditional councils, as well as retirees in each local government in Osun State.
“Imagine the level of suffering these people who depend on local government statutory allocations for the payment of their salaries would have gone through if my government had not stepped in to borrow from the state government to pay the salaries of these workers over the last almost 12 months, with the exception of traditional council salaries.
“To be able to come up with the funds from the state government, a lot of sacrifices had to be made. Allowances due to senior civil servants and political appointees had to be put on hold, at great discomfort to these men and women, in addition to slowing down some of the state’s ongoing projects. We have done this because governance is, above all, about humanity, responsibility, and compassion. But this is not sustainable.
“While Osun local government funds are being withheld to the detriment of primary school teachers, nurses in our primary health care centres, local government civil servants, retirees, and the good people of Osun State in general by UBA, allegedly under the directive of former Governor Oyetola, the APC chairmen and councillors whose so-called tenure has lapsed are receiving payments in the millions from UBA, again allegedly under the directive of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
“How this barefaced illegality can be happening in a democracy is very unfortunate, to say the least.”
The Governor then called on the President of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately intervene assuring the people of Osun State that the President is not involved in the illegality.
“At this point, I respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene. I wish to assure the good people of Osun State that Mr. President is not involved in this illegality. Mr. President is among those who fought the military for our democracy.
“I believe Mr. President’s name is being used without his knowledge by Governor Gboyega Oyetola to get the Nigerian Police and UBA to obey his alleged illegal directives. I therefore urge Mr. President to protect the integrity of our democracy by rescuing Osun State local governments from the vice grip of those whose self-awarded tenure has lapsed.
I respectfully request that Governor Gboyega Oyetola be restrained from further issuance of illegal directives to the Nigerian Police, which undermine the very fabric of our democracy.
“There is no place in our Constitution and laws that allows for tenure elongation for any elected official. What confronts us here is law versus lawlessness, constitutional order versus naked impunity.
“I therefore call on Nigerians and all those who sacrificed so much for our democracy to join us in demanding an immediate end to the siege on our local governments.
“Former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, please allow Osun State to breathe. Enough is enough.
“I thank you all for your support and steadfastness. Continue to pray for us and trust in our resolve to protect your interests”, he added.
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