‘Adeleke Deceiving Osun People, Has Paralysed LG Administration’ – Ex-Commissioner Asserts

A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the Adegboyega Oyetola administration, Adebayo Adeleke, has accused Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of undermining the local government system in the state.

He also accused the incumbent Governor of deception with the road projects by his administration.

Naija News reports that Adeleke expressed these views at a media event hosted by the Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA) on Tuesday in Osogbo, which was focused on the theme “Digging into Politics, Governance and Dividends.”

In response to inquiries regarding local government autonomy, Adeleke asserted that it is now a permanent feature in Nigeria.

He noted that during his tenure as Commissioner, the previous administration under Governor Adegboyega Oyetola did not interfere with local government allocations, contrasting this with the current situation.

The former commissioner said: “This Government is spending the local government allocations and depriving the grassroots of growth and development.

“That is why the Governor is blocking the reinstatement of the All Progressives Congress local government chairmen from resuming at the councils secretariat/offices.”

He also accused Governor Adeleke of manipulation in the recently concluded local government elections conducted in the state, adding that the state leader cannot support autonomy since he was among state governors that has approached the court over the matter.

“Governor Adeleke is against local government autonomy, that is the reason he did a kangaroo illegal and manipulated elections for the local government.

“Osun State is one of the states in the federation the 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 the Presidency to court over local government autonomy,” he claimed.

The former commissioner also 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.

He also questioned the integrity of road projects like the Old Garage-Lameco Road.

“You are doing big roads to deceive Osun people. We did roads under Oyetola without any fanfare. Now they’re bringing in ex-leaders to commission uncompleted projects,” he said.

Adeleke stressed that Sound residents affected by demolition during road expansions, such as in Lameco and Ilesa, are still crying out for compensation despite assurances from the state government.