APM accuses Osun of altering LG signatories, govt refutes claims

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused the Osun State Government of forcefully taking Finance Directors and Heads of Local Administration (HLAs) in the 30 Local Government Areas to an unknown location to change the signatories of council accounts.

The state chairman of APM, Hon. Adewale Adebayo, in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Thursday, alleged that the government wanted to change the signatories to the new ‘illegally elected’ officials.

He expressed concern over the happenings in the state, saying that the individuals were reportedly held against their will—an act, he said, that undermines the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

“We reliably gathered that Adeleke’s government has started taking 30 Local Government Area (LGA) Finance Directors and Heads of Local Administration (HLAs) into a location forcefully. This is unconnected to the contentions of who controls the local government.

“The HLAs and the Directors of Finance were taken to undisclosed locations so that they could forcefully change signatories of council accounts to the new illegally elected officials.

“Despite judicial pronouncements of the Court of Appeal upholding the October 15th, 2022 council election, the state government has maintained a stance that appears to contravene the spirit of the verdict.

“Remember that we had accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of stifling local governments, preventing them from fulfilling their constitutional roles and delivering essential services to the people; this recent happening confirms our claims.

“The current detention of LGA Finance Directors and HLAs raises serious questions about the state’s commitment to democratic values and the welfare of its citizens.

“We call for the immediate release of these officials and urge the state government to respect the rule of law and uphold human rights by addressing the underlying issues affecting local governance in Osun State.

“We also call on civil society organisations, human rights advocates, and the international community to join in condemning these actions and to support efforts aimed at restoring justice and democratic norms in Osun State,” Adebayo said.

But the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the claim as speculation, maintaining that no account has been changed.

He said, “It is just mere speculation; it is just to say something because the Commissioner for Local Government confirmed that he never gave such a directive. They have looked stupid in the eyes of the public, so they want to just say something.

“We have never changed any local government account signatory; they should remain troubled. APM is just crying more than the bereaved,” Alimi said.