Abiodun Diverted Ogun State LGs’ Allocations, N10.8bn Bailout, Council Boss Alleges

The Chairman of Ogun State’s Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo, has leveled allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun, asserting that the governor diverted the rightful Federal Allocation meant for the state’s Local Governments over the past two years.

In a letter addressed to former Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, written on Sunday and obtained by our correspondent, Adedayo claimed that the governor also redirected funds amounting to over N10.8 billion from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

According to the LG chairman, the governor has neglected to allocate the mandated 10 percent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue to the local government, a provision stipulated by the constitution, since assuming office.

A key implication of this alleged fund diversion, as highlighted by Adedayo, is that the All Progressives Congress suffered losses in several councils during the last general election. He implored Osoba to utilize his influence in persuading Governor Dapo Abiodun to ensure that the Federal statutory allocation reaches each individual council.

Adedayo indicated that this trend of withholding Federal Allocations from local governments in the state began during the tenure of former Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun. He noted that despite this matter being pertinent for approximately two years, he hesitated to address it due to concerns about potential misinterpretations of his intentions.

He further acknowledged Osoba’s significant contributions to the state’s development and to Nigeria as a whole, suggesting that the former governor deserves a well-earned rest at this point in his life.

The urgency of the situation, however, compelled Adedayo to seek Osoba’s intervention. He stressed that it is crucial to persuade Governor Dapo Abiodun that the constitutional Federal Allocation destined for Ogun State’s Local Governments should be disbursed to each local government, as intended by the 1999 Constitution. Since the local government chairpersons came into office in 2021, there has been a complete absence of Federal Allocation to each local government. Additionally, the constitutionally mandated 10 percent share of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue for the local governments has not been provided since Abiodun assumed office.