Residents of Osun State have criticised the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Moshood Olagunju, over allegations that he attempted to use the police to intimidate the Publisher of Insight Links, Jare Ismahil Tiamiyu, following an investigative report on an alleged ₦25 million ICT training controversy in the ministry.
The controversy followed a report alleging that funds earmarked for an ICT training programme under the Ministry of Youth Affairs had been mismanaged.
Rather than publicly addressing the allegations and providing clarification on the programme, Olagunju petitioned the police against the journalist who published the investigation.
However, while the commissioner reportedly told the police that the programme had been conducted, a Special Assistant in the ministry, Babawale Popoola, had earlier indicated that the event was yet to take place and would be organised on a date to be announced.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs will publicly announce plans to execute its programmes at the appropriate times, and I will play my role in ensuring that such information reaches all concerned youths,” Popoola stated on his Facebook page.
The development generated reactions during a live programme on Afinju FM, monitored by our correspondent, with callers and stakeholders questioning the commissioner’s leadership and demanding greater accountability in the management of public funds.
Some participants also described Olagunju’s action against the journalist as an attempt to silence scrutiny, while questioning his performance in over three years of his stay in office.
The residents, who called on the programme, called on the Commissioner to provide account of how the funds was spent.
Speaking during the programme, human rights activist Wole Oladapo faulted the commissioner’s handling of the ministry, arguing that political considerations should not take precedence over competence in appointments to public offices.
“This issue is like putting the wrong peg in a right hole and it’s a pity for us in Osun. Even if the Governor was asked to rate the commissioners working under him for the past four years, I know he would have many ugly things to say about the ministry of youths and its commissioner.
“The way we used to appoint people into our ministry needs to be revisited. We need to be looking for the best with experience and exposure in supervising the ministry, not all about politics, in this part of the world, we always compensate loyalty over competency.
“Immediately he was appointed, I saw it clearly that this commissioner didn’t know what he was appointed to do, and this and many other issues have justified my claim. What we have seen so far is that this commissioner is not capable,” Oladapo said.
The activist, however, commended the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the X-Squad of Zone XI Command under the leadership of ACP Akinloye Oyegade, for what he described as a professional approach to the petition against Tiamiyu.
“I commend the Osun State Police Command and particularly the officer in charge of this case, ACP Akinloye Oyegade. When this issue of arresting Jare Tiamiyu came out, I said that the police will do their job effectively because they would handle this case professionally,” he added.
Other callers expressed concern over the alleged diversion of funds meant for youth empowerment, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to investigate the ministry and ensure that the intended beneficiaries were not denied the opportunity.
One caller questioned why a commissioner responsible for youth development would allegedly threaten a journalist rather than explain how the funds were utilised.
“Did the Commissioner for Youth not know that he would need citizens again? How could he do that with the youth whom he was supposed to empower with ₦25m, and does he have to threaten the arrest of people who expose their atrocities?” the caller asked.
Another participant alleged that the governor might not be receiving an accurate account of activities in the ministry, calling for a closer examination of its programmes.
“Where we do have an issue is from those following political leaders. This commissioner will be giving reports to the governor that they are doing well in that ministry. Many bad things have happened in this ministry and the question is, has the governor not heard about it? These are the things that could be of benefit to the people, but the commissioner and his ministry decided to divert it,” the resident said.
Another caller defended Tiamiyu’s right to report on matters of public interest and urged the governor to intervene.
“How much is that money that the commissioner has to be threatening people? If they had done that programme, they were supposed to have come out for clarification where many youths would have benefitted from it. I believe that Mr. Jare Tiamiyu has not done anything bad. I am using this medium to call on the state governor to look into the affairs of this ministry,” the caller added.
A further participant appealed to the state government and the commissioner to embrace transparency, stressing that citizens have a right to demand explanations over the use of public resources.
“Our youth are the future of tomorrow. I beg on the state government and the Commissioner for Youth to take things easy. These are government funds for God’s sake, and citizens have the right to ask questions about it, and we need accountability over public funds,” the caller said.
The reactions have renewed calls for the Osun State Government to clarify the status of the alleged ₦25 million ICT training programme and address concerns surrounding the ministry’s accountability and its handling of the petition against the journalist.