News Update
Prince Adebayo Adeleke Banik has accused the Osun state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke of paralyzing the local government system in the state.
Banik made this statement at the Media Parley organized by the Osun Online Publishers Association, (OOPA), themed; “Digging into Politics, Governance and Dividends,” held in Osogbo, on Tuesday.
The former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, while answering questions from Journalists on the local government autonomy, stated that “local government autonomy has come to stay in Nigeria”
“During my time as Commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy affairs, under the last administration, former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola never touch local government allocations but reverse is the case now, this Government, Adeleke is spending the Local government allocations and depriving the grassroots growth and development, thats why the Governor is blocking the reinstatement of the local government Chairmen from resuming at the councils secretariat/offices”
He said, “Governor Adeleke is against the local government autonomy reason why he did a kangaroo show, illegal and manipulated elections for the local government”
“Osun State is one of the states in the federation which state Governor is illegally withholding funds for local governments in their jurisdiction in contravention of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended”
“Governor Adeleke was part of the State Governors who took Presidency to court over local government autonomy,” Banik said.
Voice Air Media recalls that the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgement delivered on 11th July, 2024 granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.
The Punch newspaper on Tuesday April 8 had reported that Governors block council chairmen from opening CBN accounts.
Also, the former commissioner accused the Adeleke-led administration of gross financial mismanagement, citing the sudden jump in the Ministry of Youth and Sports budget from N2 billion in 2022 to N13 billion in 2023, while questioning the integrity of road projects like the Old Garage-Ndameko Road and the Makona-Gengada project, which he alleged were inflated.
“You are doing big roads to deceive Osun people. We did roads under Oyetola without any fanfare. Now they’re bringing in ex-leaders like Babangida to commission uncompleted projects.”
He noted that residents affected by demolition during road expansions, such as in Lameco and Ilesa, are still crying out for compensation despite assurances from the government.
