Gov. Adeleke Ademola of Osun state has explained how a certain ‘hijacked’ N300bn LG funds by now-sacked local government chairmen and personnel are delaying certain projects that should have been completed across the state.
This revelation was made by the governor while he sat with the state’s stakeholders in a project review meeting. The meeting is usually aimed at engaging the state’s major megaprojects with eager members and representatives of certain sectors of the state. During this latest meeting, the reviewed projects included the Ile-Ife flyover and dualisation, Lameco flyover at Osogbo, Ila Orangun township dualisation, Osogbo-Ofatedo-Awo junction dualisation, and Iwo township dualisation.
“Close to N300 billion of state money is trapped and hijacked by the Osun APC. We have been using money for state projects to sustain the local workforce”, the governor stated.
He then went on to tell why and how these people have captured local government funds to themselves. He stressed that the sacked chairmen do not possess integrity required to lead the people and their sacks are justifiable.
“If Osun APC lacks conscience by diverting funds meant for local workers to their personal use, I can not do it. I can not abandon local workers who the court sacked APC chairmen intend to punish by criminally hijacking and diverting LG funds in open violation of local government finance laws”, he said.
However, Gov. Adeleke stressed that despite the purported theft of local government funding, the state has taken charge itself, taking the responsibility of paying local teachers, healthcare providers, retirees, and local government employees for more than a year.
“The workers have families and their own needs. Why should a party decide to hate and punish workers for no just reason? So, the state government has been footing the bills all along. If we had refused to financially sustain the local workforce, local health and education services would have collapsed by now. Hardship at the local level would have increased.
“We are sacrificing. We are denying ourselves of personal comfort to deliver ongoing projects and more for your use and greatness of your communities. We will not abandon you”, he said.
ENigeria Newspaper also gathered that in addition to the five major projects being reveiwed, bridges between Ilahun and Ere Òjèsà, Ibokun/Ilahun/Ere Ijesa – Iwoye đjèsà, and OtanIle – Esa Odo – Iwoye Ijèsà Roads in the Obokun Local Government region are among the others that were reviewed at the meeting.
Gov.Adeleke instructed the contractors to expedite the pace of work in all infrastructure programs and expressed pleasure with the ongoing asphalt laying at Ile Ife, Iwo, and Ila Orangun.
Gov. Adeleke ahead of 2027
While Gov. Adeleke has not officially joined the All Progressive Congress but joined the Accord Party instead, he has reiterated his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection in 2027 and expressed gratitude to the Osun people for their widespread support of the Accord.
Last month, he spoke to cabinet members, special advisers, and senior government officials at the government house and stated that his support for the President during his tenure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was unaffected by the crises plaguing Osun State’s local governments.
However, he gave the officials instructions to revive the Accord structures throughout the state by continuing to register members and mobilize voters in each of the state’s 332 wards.
