Accusations of budget diversion: Ogun LG chairmen kneel before Abiodun

Local Government Chairmen in Ogun State bowed before Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday, pleading with him for pardon over a remark made by their counterparts in Ijebu East, Wale Adedayo, claiming Abiodun had misappropriated cash intended for the councils.

Adedayo had complained in writing to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former governor Olusegun Osoba about how local government monies were being used.

Adedayo had stated that the joint account maintained by the State and local governments resulted in zero allocation for the 20 local governments in Ogun State.

He claimed that the change had made it impossible for local government chairmen to serve the interests of the general populace.

He claimed that Governor Abiodun had diverted the bailout money and ecological funds intended for the councils from reaching them.

But yesterday at a meeting with all the council chairmen, excuses were made to the governor.

In a video made available by the governor’s media team, Emilola Gazal, the chairman of the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, begged Abiodun to pardon them on behalf of his colleagues.

“We’re here to beg you as a father that you are in this state,” Gazal said. Your Excellency, if you could pardon us. Who do we turn to if you don’t forgive us? I therefore offer this apology on our collective behalf and, in particular, on Wale Adedayo’s behalf.

The council boss then bowed before the governor, and others soon followed, pleading for Abiodun’s pardon.

Abiodun responded by claiming that he had been acting with the utmost sincerity.

Abiodun claimed that he had maintained his commitment to seeing that “I am guided with all the promises I made in the course of my journey to the governor’s office.”

Adedayo reportedly attended the meeting, according to OBASANJO NEWS24, but it was unclear at the time whether he also knelt down to implore Gov. Abiodun, whom he had accused of misusing council funds.

Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for governor in Ogun State, has meanwhile urged the State House of Assembly to look into the claims made by Adedayo.

Adebutu claimed that he had been dissatisfied with the State’s management of local government funds since 2021.

Speaking through his media assistant, Afolabi Orekoya, Adebutu claimed that the outburst of the current chairman, Adedayo, had vindicated him.

“A total amount of N153bn had been diverted,” he asserted, “and that is why our local governments are in such a terrible state.”

But, the governor has denied all charges that he syphoned council cash since he came on board.

Instead, Abiodun claimed that he had been boosting the local government monies flowing from the federation account so that the chairmen could meet their financial obligations, especially the payment of salaries.