Osun Monarchs Urge Tinubu to Step In Resolve LG Allocation Dispute

The Osun Council of Obas has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing impasse over the allocation of funds to local governments in Osun State.

The traditional rulers noted that the non-payment of funds has paralyzed activities at the local government level, affecting traditional institutions and communities across the state.

In a communiqué issued after a meeting at the Ile Oodua Palace of Ife, the monarchs expressed concern over the impact of the impasse on governance and grassroots development.

The Council, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, emphasized their apolitical stance and stressed that their interest lies in seeing a working society and functional local government for the benefit of all, especially the vulnerable.

“As purely apolitical fathers of the land, we are not interested in the politics, individual differences or whatever that could be responsible for the seizure of the local government allocations, our interest is to see a working society and functional local government for the benefit of all especially the vulnerable individuals across our communities.

“It is an open-secret that the traditional institution across the country are being upheld through the five percent deductions from the Local Government allocation, and when this is not available, it will be almost impossible for us to serve our people adequately.

“It amazes us daily to see secretariats to have suddenly become inactive because the allocations meant for their smooth running have been withheld for several months, over issues that have nothing to do with the common people currently suffering the brunt. Our markets, community roads and other responsibilities of the Local Government are suffering badly and we, as traditional rulers cannot afford to pretend like we do not see these rots.

“It is on this note that we call on Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to intervene as father of the nation. We will be glad if Mr. President can hear the cries of common community dwellers across our farmlands and villages, suffering hugely from the total deactivation of local government activities for several months.

“Either political or judicial, we wish to implore Mr. President that resolving the crisis will benefit Osun State greatly especially her rural communities and also reenergize the traditional institution across the land to continue to compliment the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government in the prompt delivery of the “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

“Sequel to Mr President’s efforts towards assigning constitutional roles to traditional rulers across the country in an attempt to foster rural development and civil engagement, we are confident in his ability to resolve whatever might have been responsible for the blockade of Osun State local government allocations.” They added.