In a bold move that underscores their commitment to transparency and good governance, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State came together on Tuesday to address the allegations made by the suspended Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr. Wale Adedayo. Adedayo had claimed that the local governments in the state were receiving zero allocations, casting shadows of doubt over the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
During their courtesy visit to the Secretary to the government of Ogun State, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the APC Chairmen unveiled the results of their independent investigation into Adedayo’s claims. They discovered that his allegations were nothing more than a mischievous attempt to derail the progress of the current administration.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Henry Fagbenro, the APC Chairman for Abeokuta South and the Chairman of the body, stated unequivocally that the facts and figures related to the allocation of funds to local governments in the state over the past four years contradict Adedayo’s assertions.
“We suspect that Adedayo does not mean well for the state, and to us, his plan is to derail this present administration which is already on course,” Fagbenro declared.
The party chairmen, who are prominent stakeholders in the state, expressed their initial concerns when they first heard Adedayo’s sensational claims. However, their worries were put to rest when their own investigation revealed that the media reports were based on falsehoods and misinformation.
Fagbenro emphasized that contrary to Adedayo’s allegations of zero allocations, the state government consistently supplements the local governments’ funds while earmarking funds for capital projects. The government’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity is evident in its financial support for the local governments.
In response, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi commended the party chairmen for their proactive stance in independently verifying the allegations. He praised the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun for its unwavering commitment to inclusivity and transparency, acknowledging that the government had worked diligently to restore credibility with the people since taking office.
Talabi revealed that Governor Abiodun was perplexed by Adedayo’s claims, considering that his administration had consistently provided substantial financial support to bolster local government allocations and meet their statutory obligations. He also noted that the state government had allocated N1.8 billion to the 20 local governments for infrastructural projects, with close supervision to ensure equitable distribution.
The SSG encouraged the party chairmen to educate the public about the government’s genuine commitment to openness and transparency, emphasizing that truth would always prevail.
Adedayo, who was released from DSS custody after spending three days, had accused Governor Abiodun of hijacking LG funds and forwarded a petition to anti-graft agencies. However, at the time of reporting, he did not respond to attempts to seek his comments.
This development follows Adedayo’s suspension by a quorum of councillors and raises questions about the veracity of his allegations and the motivations behind them.