.As Gov Abiodun, Adedayo, others make counter-claims

The current political imbroglio evolving in Ogun State is capable of setting the already volatile state on fire, considering the way and manner the political drama has been playing out.

The turn of event, a fortnight ago, following a letter written by the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Council, Wale Adedayo on the alleged impoverishment of the councils in the state jolted many. Not because Adedayo doesn’t have the right to question Governor Dapo Abiodun, but based on the fact that the local council chairman who is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the same party as the governor, could have the boldness to voice out on the plight of the councils in the last two years.

In the letter he addressed to a former governor of the state and a leader of APC, Olusegun Osoba, Adedayo accused Governor Abiodun of withholding statutory allocations from the federation accounts to the 20 local councils.

Adedayo said the illegal seizure of their funds had crippled local councils in the state and brought their officials to ridicule before citizens at the council areas for non-performance

He stated: “This letter should have been written about two years ago. But I was wary of what many naive people would say about me. Besides, at your age and given the level of your selfless contributions to the development of our state, and Nigeria in general, we expect you to be taking a well-deserved rest at this time. But agba kii wa ni oja, ki ori omo titun wo (we expect the elderly to intervene in correcting wrongs that everyone appears to have overlooked).

“Your urgent intervention is sorely needed to convince the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, that the statutory Federal Allocation to Local Councils in Ogun State should be allowed to reach each of them as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution. Since we (Ogun State Local Government Chairmen) got on board in 2021, it has been zero Federal Allocation to each local council. The 10 per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, which the Constitution also stipulated should go to the local councils, has not been given since Abiodun got into office.

“Now, the negative consequences of zero Federal Allocations to Local Councils in Ogun State should be clear for all to see. We should not have lost the last elections in all the places we did during the Governorship and House of Assembly polls if our local councils were being funded as provided for in the 1999 Constitution. I am not proud to say that we (Local Councils Chairmen) have done very little or nothing since we were sworn in because the funds to work are being withheld by Mr. Governor….”

The intent and the tone of the letter has, however, not gone down well with the governor, including party members and the top echelon of the party in the state, who perceive the embattled chairman’s stance as an affront on the ‘finger that fed him.’

As expected, the chairman was suspended by council lawmakers, who accused Adedayo of financial misappropriation, in a hasty manner, followed by his invitation and incarceration by the Department of Security Services for three days.

An interesting part of the whole saga was the role played by his colleagues, who distanced themselves from him, claiming the state government has never withheld their allocations and they have never been starved of funds.

Contrary to the position of other local council chairmen, sources across some of the councils in the state, confirmed that the councils are actually starved of funds, thereby corroborating Adedayo’s allegations. A source, who is an elected council official, claimed that aside from payment of salaries, no developmental project is carried out due to the zero allocation.

The Guardian observed in one of the councils in Ogun Central Senatorial District that there are no visible projects around and about the council.

A councilor who confided in The Guardian said: “The worst is the monthly Federal Allocation. Yes, there is a monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting, which should be presided over by the Commissioner for Finance. The Commissioner for Finance has never attended any. My chairman told us that the meeting is usually attended by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs along with the Ogun State Accountant General.”

It was learnt that the monthly meeting was just for formality, as no money gets to any of the 20 local councils since Abiodun assumed office as governor.

Political analysts are, however, concerned as to what the outcome of the lingering face-off may cause governance in the state, especially now that the Governor is perceived to still be at a crossroads.

Though his allies might deny the fact that the Governor is unshaken, analysts say if the councils funds diversion allegation is not well handled, it might unsettle the governor and his administration as the petitioner claims he has evidences to back his assertions.

Another battle the governor is also silently fighting is to regain his confidence following the rumoured fallout between him and his political allies, who helped him win his re-election bid – former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who’s currently a Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District and Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi), among others, though the latter has denied any rift between him and the governor.

With the situation of things, there is one question agitating the minds of political analysts and residents of the state – is Adedayo fighting solo or he is being used by unseen forces behind to see the downfall of the governor?

For now, especially with the position of the chairmen who are taking sides with the governor that they have been receiving the monthly Federal Allocation regularly, many are in a state of confusion, wanting to know who is right and who is wrong.

Adedayo has maintained his stance that the councils received no funds as his colleagues are claiming. He has also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step in and investigate the matter.

Political analysts are of the opinion that if the embattled chairman is actually right and the governor investigated, it may spell doom for his political career, except the House of Assembly fails in its responsibilities.

A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo, said if investigations reveal that Adedayo’s allegations are real, it will be a good ground for impeachment as it will be tagged as diversion of funds. However, he noted that because of the current nature of the country’s political system, it may be difficult for the house to arrive at that.

“I cannot readily recollect any section of the constitution that speaks on this, but you know that the local council administration is governed or guided by the law made by the House of Assembly, not the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The relevant section will be there that allows the local councils to have access to its funds and there is a relevant section in the 1999 Constitution as amended for the JAAC and also for the governor and the government of the day to allow access to their funds. Do not forget that 10 per cent of the Internally Generated Revenue of Ogun State is expected to be shared amongst the 20 local councils and I remembered that Adedayo said nothing of such since 2021.
“So, if the house can be bold or courageous enough, they should ask the governor to explain. They can query him, not necessarily move to impeach, asking him to explain why 10 per cent of the monthly IGR were not remitted,” he said.

Oladipo, who was the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the last administration, said in these entire imbroglio, “it is the Auditor General of state that is being addressed, there is a constitutional provision for Auditor General of the local council, who is saddled with the Auditing of the local council accounts to also be invited. So, I see no reason why such a person should not be invited and questioned if any allocations did go to the local council.

“And if it did not, why? Definitely, if it has been the regular Auditing of the local council, you will see the inflow and outflow of money, you will see where and when the state government paid the local council, whether it is federal allocations or the 10 per cent IGR. It will be there, but if not, then there must be a reason for it.”

Oladapo confirmed that he was not unaware that there are some terrible imbalance amongst the local councils in the state, that to a large extent the IGR and the allocations of some of the councils are far below their expenditure, where about 70 per cent of their allocations goes to paying salaries, especially teachers’ salaries, noting that there is no way the account will be balanced if adjustment are not made here and there.
When asked if the lingering impasse will not affect governance in the state, especially with Adedayo’s stance not to back off, Oladipo said: “Well, I think the governor brought this current scenario on himself, so there is no apology for that. He who lives in the glass house doesn’t throw stone.”