A group, Gateway Rebirth Forum (GRF), has called on the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, to publish the audited financial reports of all the local governments in the state since the beginning of his administration in 2019.
Recall that one of the local government chairmen, Wale Adedayo, alleged in a letter to a former governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Olusegun Osoba, that Abiodun consistently denied them the allocations meant for them.
The executive chairman of Ijebu East Local Government accused the governor of neglecting the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) Chairmen who came on board in 2021, stating that they have not received any federal allocations since their tenure began. Additionally, he alleged that the constitutionally mandated 10% share of the state Internally Generated Revenues meant for the LGAs has not been provided.
Furthermore, Adedayo claimed that the governor never allocated any funds from the President Muhammad Buhari intervention to states and local governments, despite the 20 LGAs being entitled to approximately 10 billion naira. He also mentioned that funds intended for Ecology management, allocated in the name of the LGAs, did not reach them.
Another accusation leveled against the governor is the takeover of revenue sources belonging to the LGAs, including Motor Parks and Primary schools, by the state government under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun. This action is alleged to be a continuation of what Senator Ibikunle Amosun had initiated.
In its own response made available to Freelanews and signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Abioye Mustapha Oladimeji, GRF appealed that the governor should come clean and put a lie to the allegations of the executive chairman.
The group also advised the governor not to listen to some fifth columnists within and outside the government circle to initiate any process that will further heat the fragile polity as he alone would bear its consequences.
Read the full text below.
“PUBLISH THE UP-TO-DATE RECEIPT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS” ~Group charged Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Having reviewed a letter written by the Executive Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr. Wale Adedayo addressed to the chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Chief Olusegun Osoba over the Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON consistent denial of local government areas in the state to have their allocations from the federation account remitted to them.
In the letter, Mr. Wale Adedayo accused the governor that since the 20 LGA Chairmen came on board in 2021, they have been getting ZERO FEDERAL ALLOCATIONS.
He also alleged that the statutory 10% of the state Internally Generated Revenues which the constitution stipulated should go to the LGAs has not been given.
Thirdly, he alleged that Prince Dapo Abiodun never gave the LGAs a dime from the President Muhammad Buhari intervention to states and local government due to the 20 Local Government running into about 10billion naira. While some funds meant for Ecology management assessed in the name of the LGAs too never got to them.
Another allegations against the governor is that revenue sources of the LGAs such as Motor Parks, Primary schools among others have been taken over by the state government under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun in continuation of what Senator Ibikunle Amosun created.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as a concerned citizens and stakeholders in the state, we have painstakingly outlined key allegations from the letter so as have focus on the subjects of discussion.
It is therefore our firm believe that the state government be given the opportunity to respond to these allegations among others by publishing the audited financial reports of the 20 Local Government Areas in the state since inception of this administration in May 2019.
We also demand that all revenue allocations due and payables to the 20 LGAs be published.
We demand that a special fact finding committee be set up by the Ogun State House of Assembly to look into some of this allegations with a view to take necessary actions as provided for by our laws.
Lastly, we want to advise the state governor not to listen to some fifth columnists within and outside the government circle to initiate any process that will further heat the fragile polity as Mr. governor alone will be left to bear the consequences of such actions in short and long term effects.
The Gateway Rebirth Forum wishes to express confidence in the leaderships of the Executive and Legislative arms of government as led by Prince Dapo Abiodun CON and Rt. Honourable Taiwo Oluomo to address this matter with every sense of responsibility as this has to do with the lowest cadre of governance, the grassroots.
Kindly accept assurances of our esteemed regards.
Signed:
Abioye Mustapha Oladimeji
Director of Public Affairs
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
