A senior aide to Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, has accused Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, of deliberately misleading the public over the issue of local government funding in the state.
Dr Bolaji Akinola, special adviser to the minister, made the allegation in a statement on Wednesday, dismissing claims by Governor Adeleke that funds allocated to Osun local governments were being withheld. He described the governor’s position as inaccurate and intended to divert attention from governance challenges.
According to Akinola, the controversy surrounding local government finances was largely self-inflicted, arising from actions taken by the Osun State Government, including multiple legal battles over council administration.
He argued that delays or complications in disbursement could not be blamed on external actors, insisting that the state government had repeatedly approached the courts in an attempt to overturn judicial decisions that were already settled.
Akinola further rejected claims that local government activities in Osun had been stalled, stating that council secretariats were open and operational, with workers carrying out their duties.
He referenced a Court of Appeal judgement delivered on February 10, 2025, which he said restored elected local government chairmen in the state. According to him, the ruling was not appealed by the state government and therefore remains binding.
The minister’s aide accused the governor of refusing to accept judicial authority, noting that disputes over tenure are currently before the courts and should not be misrepresented in public discourse.
On the issue of local government autonomy, Akinola cited a Supreme Court ruling of July 11, 2024, which affirmed financial independence for councils nationwide and prohibited governors from dissolving elected councils or installing caretaker committees.
He also dismissed allegations that Minister Oyetola was exerting influence over the Nigeria Police, describing such claims as baseless and inflammatory. He maintained that the police operate within established command structures and are not subject to the control of any individual minister.
Akinola concluded by stating that Osun local governments remain lawful, autonomous, and functional, insisting that the ongoing dispute reflects a failure to accept the legal framework governing council administration in the state.
