By VICTOR ADEOTI

Former Local Government (LG) chairmen in Osun have urged the Federal Government to investigate the alleged misappropriation of N183 billion federal allocation accrued to the 30 LGs between November 2022 and November 2024.

The chairmen, elected In 2022 under All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged that the 1999 constitution was violated due to withholding and spending of the federal allocation accrued to the local government areas in the state.

Mr Samuel Owoeye, Chairman, Obokun East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), made the call on Saturday in Osogbo during a news conference on behalf of the chairmen.

?We are deeply concerned by the flagrant abuse and disregard to the judicial pronouncement of the highest court in the land by the state government.

?The state government has received, spent and/or tampered with funds released from the federation account, the sum of N183 billion standing to the credit of the 30 LG councils In the state from November 2022 to November 2024.

?We all recall that on 11th July 2024, in suit no: SC/CV/343/2024, the Supreme Court in its landmark judgment, forbade state governments in the country from tampering with LG?s allocations.

?This untoward behaviour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in Osun, has ignominiously impoverished the people of the state, especially those at the grassroots.

?To this effect, it is disheartening to note that between November 2022 and November 2024, a staggering sum of N183 billion, being allocation to the councils in the state was received and spent.

?Curiously, our concern stems from the fact that the administration has embarked on this impunity without democratically elected local government officials in place.

?This in itself, is an intentional subversion of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). As law abiding citizens of Nigeria, we frown at this unbecoming attitude of the PDP administration in the state?, he said.

Responding to the allegations, Mr Kolapo Alimi, the state Commissioner of Information and Civic Orientation, described the allegations as mere propaganda.

Alimi said that government would react with facts and figures to debunk the allegations by next week.

According to him, the state government will react accordingly, but being the weekend, those in charge of the figures will not be in the office.

The commissioner noted that the state government had embarked on the construction of 1.5 kilometres of roads across all the local government areas, apart from other developmental strides.

He said nothing was done during the tenure of the former council chairmen.

?This is weekend and those that will provide the necessary figures to debunk the allegation will not be in the office.

?If they actually want us to react, why did they put the press conference on a weekend? But by next week, ministry of local government, which is in charge will react accordingly?, he said. (NAN)

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