Society Gists

Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress across the 20 local government areas of Ogun State, on Tuesday, said the suspended Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr. Wale Adedayo was only out to derail the administration of the Governor Dapo Abiodun with his unfounded zero allocation to the local governments in the state.

The APC Chairmen, during a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the government of Ogun State, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi in his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said they have independently taken steps to investigate all the claims made by Adedayo and discovered that he was playing to the gallery and being mischievous.

Speaking on behalf of the group, APC Chairman for Abeokuta South, who is also the Chairman of the body, Mr. Henry Fagbenro said the facts and figures showing the disbursement of allocations to local governments in the State in the last four years negate the claims of the suspended chairman.

“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,” he said.

Fagbenro noted that the party chairmen, as stakeholders, decided to investigate the truth behind the whole saga but were embarrassed that what was in the media was basically false and misleading.

He said, “SSG sir if you care to know when we heard all these fake stories being circulated, we were worried not because we were oblivious of the inclusiveness of the governor in ensuring that he carried all stakeholders along being a stickler to rules and regulations but because we felt the claimant being a chairman, cannot say what is not true at his level.

“Albeit, we were taken aback having found out the truth by ourselves and we dissociate ourselves completely from his incendiary and ignoble actions,”

Fagbenro added that contrary to Adedayo’s claims that LGs received zero allocations, the state government augments the allocation almost on a daily basis, while also earmarking funds for them to be able to carry out capital projects.

In his response, Talabi commended the party chairmen for taking the initiative to independently investigate the allegation as major stakeholders in the state, describing the step as one taken in the right direction.

He said the administration of the governor has genuinely demonstrated inclusiveness and transparency for all to see knowing fully well that the government did not have much credibility with the people before the present government came on board.

The state scribe noted that the governor was really baffled by the claims of Adedayo, knowing that his administration gives hundreds of millions almost on a monthly basis to shore up their allocation so as to fulfil their statutory obligations.

Talabi noted that N1.8 billion has been given to the 20 local governments to undertake infrastructural projects with close supervision of the state to ensure they are not concentrated in one area.”So, the governor felt his magnanimity was being taken for granted with all these fallacies. I urge you all to go out there to educate our people whom he may have dissuaded because I know that truth is sacred and will always prevail.

“This administration is open and transparent like no other and I think maybe, this our passion to ensure that our people are actively involved in the day-to-day running of government is being taken for granted, but the governor has affirmed that he will continue to do what is right,” the SSG said.

Meanwhile, all efforts made to get Adedayo’s response were not successful as he did not pick up his call or respond to the message sent to his WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that last week, Adedayo, who was released from the DSS custody, in Abeokuta after spending three days had written a letter to a former governor in the state, Chief Olusegun, Osoba, alleging among other things that the state governor, Abiodun, had hijacked LG funds to the tune ofN10.8bn, while also forwarding a petition to the anti-graft agencies over the same allegations.

Adedayo was detained by the DSS on Friday, September 1, 2023, following his suspension by a quorum of councillors.

Speaking to The Punch after his release in Abeokuta, Adedayo said the DSS summoned him following a petition written against him that he was making inciting comments that could jeopardise public peace.

He, has, however, vowed to continue to challenge his ‘illegal suspension’, saying he remained unshaken over his travails so far.