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Local Government Chairmen in a Fight with Governor Abiodun over Alleged Billions of Naira For LGA

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Governor Dapo Abiodun


Local government chairmen across Ogun State are set for a showdown with the governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, over what they described as a betrayal of trust and non-reward of loyalty by the governor and secretary of the state government, Tokunbo Talabi.

The disquiet, which has now resorted to threats of arrest, jail and kidnapping by some loyalists of the governor against some of the chairmen, may fuel the already tension-soaked state after the governorship election.

Governor Abiodun, whose administration came with the mantra of ensuring the independence of local councils and adequate remuneration of federal allocations to them and ensuring proper discharge of statutory roles, walked back on his promise immediately after the incumbent council chairmen were inaugurated.

Trouble started for the chairmen when they were invited by the governor to open Access Bank accounts for their local councils but were denied the opportunity to be signatories to the bank accounts, according to multiple sources within the governor’s office who pleaded anonymity for fear of being reprimanded.

The accounts which were opened at the Abeokuta branch of the bank were to receive statutory allocations from the federal government. However, rather than have the chairman of the council and director of finance as signatories to the accounts, only their phone numbers were linked to the accounts to receive credit and debit alerts.

A director of finance in one of the councils disclosed that sometimes they receive credit alerts in the morning and, by afternoon, a debit alert withdrawing the amount without any input or authorisation from the council. The director stated that an example of such was when the council received N300 million into the account, and within five minutes, a debit of N295 million was equally received with no knowledge of how it happened and no explanation.

*Ecological Funds*

While the chairmen seem to have gotten used to the system of absolute control by Governor Abiodun, a recent meeting after the governorship election where the governor mandated them to sign for the collection of the federal government-allocated ecological funds without receiving a dime broke the camels back.

“Who does the governor think he is?” a chairman in Ogun central protested in anger while speaking with our correspondent. “We played a significant role in ensuring his reelection. We kept quiet while the public abused us and called us thieves for not doing anything. What do they expect us to do when he has taken all the money? Now he wants us to sign for billions of naira we didn’t collect. At the end of the day, who would EFCC be after? Definitely not him!“

*Money for legal case*

But while the chairmen continue to oppose the move by the governor to corner the ecological fund, a close ally of Mr Abiodun disclosed that the sudden discontent of the chairmen against the governor was selfish and not in the interest of the people.

According to him, the chairmen are aware the governor is done with them and looking to replace them during his second term.

“What do they want from this man? During the election, they were adequately mobilised but kept the money to themselves, the election was a tough battle, and it wouldn’t have been so if they had done what was required.

“Now we are in court. Do they think tribunal cases are free? Where do they expect the governor to get that kind of fund after the election?”

*Thugs taking over functions of local councils*

When asked why local councils could not function with revenues they make from the statutory model, some of the council members disclosed that every rate, levy and ticket that is distributed across the markets and parks, garages and shops, even though bear the local government names, the state government prints them and funds are taking to governor’s office.

The chairmen disclosed that they are at the mercy of transport union members within their vicinity who acts as the governor’s boys and determine when they would meet the governor or discuss matters of the council.

Attempts to speak with the governor were unsuccessful. Multiple calls made to his personal line were unanswered while the state commissioner for information Waheed Odusile’s number didn’t connect.

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JUST IN: APC expels Aregbesola over anti-party activities

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The All Progressives Congress has expelled a former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities.Aregbesola, who led Osun State for two terms, had spearheaded a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus.A letter from the APC leadership seen by newsmen on Wednesday officially confirmed Aregbesola’s expulsion.The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” accused him of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members.

The letter read in part, “At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC.“The decision was predicated on clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party. As a result, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from holding yourself out as one or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.”The former minister’s expulsion followed a Sunday meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus, presided over by Aregbesola, where the group announced its decision to exit the APC, citing the party’s waning influence in Osun.

PUNCH

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Rivers: Supreme Court Fixes February 10 To Hear Five Cases

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The Supreme Court, today, fixed February 10, 2025, for the hearing of five separate cases instituted by the camps of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the apex Court.A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, ordered an adjournment in the cases to enable the parties to file and serve the necessary court documents in the separate appeals.For ease of determination, however, the court ordered the consolidation of four of the appeals, following a request to that effect by the appellants’ counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, who represented the Wike camp.The four appeals the court consolidated for ease of hearing are: SC/CV/1174/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Government and nine others; SC/CV/1175/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Governor and nine others; SC/CV/1176/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, and nine others; and SC/CV/1177/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Accountant General of Rivers State and nine others.Earlier, following a request for the withdrawal of a cross-appeal filed on November 18, 2024, in SC/CV/1071A/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the National Assembly and 16 others, Justice Aba-Aji announced that hearing has been fixed for February 10, 2025.Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had in a judgment delivered on January 22, 2024, faulted the presentation of the 2024 budget to four members of the State House of Assembly loyal to the governor.Omotosho had then ordered the governor to re-present the budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.Flowing from the judgment of Justice Omotosho, a sister court, also in the Abuja division, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had ordered the stoppage of the release of allocations from the federal government to Rivers State until the governor presented the budget before the Amaewhule-led assembly.The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the judgment of Justice Omotosho.

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Breaking: Ondo Gov dissolves cabinet, retains two commissioners

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Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dissolved the State Executive Council with immediate effect.The dissolution, announced on Wednesday, exempts two cabinet members—Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, and Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac—due to the critical nature of their duties.In a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the affected officials were directed to hand over all government properties in their possession to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.The statement read, “The Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council, with immediate effect.

“However, the Governor has exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution, due to the critical nature of their duties. They are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.“All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.”Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the outgoing cabinet members for their contributions to the state’s development during their tenure, wishing them success in their future endeavours.

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