The forum of former local government chairmen in Osun State has criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke for allegedly mismanaging N183 billion intended for the state’s 30 councils.
The funds, according to the group, were federal allocations to the local governments from November 2022 to November 2024.
At a press briefing in Osogbo on Monday, the group’s leader, Abiodun Owoeye, claimed the Adeleke administration had violated the 1999 Constitution by withholding and misusing these federal allocations.
“The actions of the Adeleke administration are in direct defiance of a Supreme Court ruling concerning local government funding,” Owoeye said. “We are deeply concerned by the flagrant disregard for the highest court’s decision.”
He went on to accuse the governor of spending or tampering with a total of N183.2 billion—funds allocated to the 30 local councils between November 2022 and November 2024. Owoeye lamented that the money, which was meant for grassroots development, had been spent without visible benefits for the people.
The former chairmen called on the federal government and relevant agencies to investigate the alleged mismanagement of the local government funds.
However, the Osun State government quickly dismissed the allegations. Kolapo Alimi, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, described the accusations as “mischievous” and promised an appropriate response.
“These claims are frivolous,” Alimi said in a statement. “We will address them in due course.”
