A cross-section of Osun residents has expressed shock and disbelief at the current push by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to loot and divert Osun local government funds running into several billions of naira.
Street interviews conducted by our reporter in Osogbo and its environs revealed a deep level of anger over the reported conduct of the state APC, which allegedly violated state finance laws and local government financial regulations.
Reports indicated that the APC had committed several infractions bordering on bare-faced theft of public funds, contravening Osun State finance laws as well as several provisions of the EFCC and ICPC enabling acts.
Such violations and infractions reportedly include: the opening of local government accounts with illegal signatories, excluding the formally recognized signatories as stipulated by public finance regulations; the illegal transfer of funds from the Central Bank to UBA under shady circumstances; the alleged release of funds by UBA to court-sacked APC chairmen despite existing court orders; the reported deduction of about N12.7 billion as legal fees from the almost N70 billion seized fund; and taking action on a matter still before the Supreme Court and under a subsisting court order.
Residents who spoke to our reporter described the development as an open threat to good governance and public interest, calling it a deliberate plot to divert public resources into private pockets.
A teacher, Adegoke Ismail, at Orisunmibare market said he is still struggling to understand what is happening to the state APC regarding the LG funds, asking in shock:
“Do the APC know it is committing a high crime by this shameless toying with public funds? How can you pay public funds into shady accounts? How can you tamper with public money in clear violation of finance laws? It is hard to understand what has taken over the Osun APC.”
Another citizen, Adeyemo Ayinde, who hails from Ikirun, condemned APC chieftains allegedly involved in the mishandling of the local government funds, describing the reports as “worrisome and a source of anger for most Osun residents.”
“Our people are angry at the APC and its members. I have never seen a situation as bad as this. Paying LG funds into private accounts? This is the height of criminality,” he said.
Hajia Sikirat Akande, a market leader, queried what sins Osun people committed to warrant this current attack on local government administration by the APC.
“Why is APC punishing us? What have we done? Out of 36 states, why is Osun singled out? Why? Is it because of the governor? If the APC plan is to stop Osun from developing, then it has failed. This governor is stubborn and will not be distracted from serving the people. We are enjoying the dancing governor in Osun.
“The more the APC attacks him, the more we, the people, love him. Our people hate the APC even more than before. Where is Baba Akande to call his people to order? Many of them will rot in jail with the way things are going,” she said angrily.
At Owode market, an engineer and entrepreneur, Dele Ayanfe, described the handling of Osun local government funds as an embarrassment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the Osun APC is a big embarrassment to the president, adding that their conduct undermines his administration’s fight against corruption.
“I am a supporter of Mr. President, but I am not happy with his silence on what is happening in Osun. I am tempted to say that the president is not aware. I said so because these Osun APC people are walking into criminality in public glare. Their violations of the law are in the public domain, even with the party’s open confirmation. The President should call his men to order. This cannot and should not continue.
“How can you levy legal fees on local government funds? How can you deduct money for political litigation from public funds? This is becoming high crime before our eyes,” he lamented.
