Abiodun, Adebutu bicker over alleged mismanagement of N214bn Ogun LG funds

The previous governorship candidate of the Folks’s Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, on Wednesday, alleged that the federal government of Dapo Abiodun mismanaged no less than N214bn meant for the event of native governments within the final 5 years.

Adebutu claimed that this was the rationale Abiodun had allegedly been utilizing the safety companies to harass and silence him, as he had constantly demanded transparency, accountability, and good governance on the grassroots degree.

The PDP chief additionally reported the governor to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to name Abiodun to order, accusing the governor of not solely threatening the nation’s democracy but additionally undermining the goodwill of the ruling All Progressives Congress within the Southwest.

Adebutu disclosed this at a press briefing held in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Recall that the opposition chief was detained by the Division of State Companies on Monday, and was additionally on the State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, over allegations of violence associated to the Saturday native authorities elections within the state.

Adebutu mentioned, “They’ve been pursuing me and need to silence me as a result of they’re embezzling native authorities funds. They don’t need the theft of our assets to cease.

“No less than within the final 5 years, the 20 native governments within the state have acquired at least N214bn, however there may be nothing to indicate for it. They will’t even minimize the grass within the native governments.

“Up to now, underneath the federal government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the native governments have been concerned within the development of rural roads, drainages, motor parks, markets, rural electrification, and rather more, however that’s now a factor of the previous.”

The PDP Board of Trustees member insisted that no election came about on Saturday, saying that over 4,000 polling models out of about 5,244 polling models weren’t equipped with voting supplies.

He accused Abiodun of bringing within the army from Ibadan to assault opposition members, whereas thugs have been introduced from Ikorodu to unleash terror on his aides.

Adebutu added, “Who’re these troopers that got here from Ibadan, and on whose orders? Who’re the individuals who shot at one of many policemen assigned to me since December 2022, simply to make sure my security? The police officer remains to be critically sick at OOUTH?”

He has, nonetheless, urged Tinubu to name Abiodun to order, saying that the best way the governor has performed himself within the final week, significantly over the LG ballot, is sort of condemnable.

Adebutu mentioned, “If underneath a Yoruba presidency, the President will sit again and watch his individuals being overwhelmed and maimed as a result of they need to train their franchise and vote for the candidates of their selection, it is going to be very unhappy. The reality is that the governor is destroying no matter goodwill is left of the APC within the Southwest.”

Reacting, the state authorities described Adebutu’s allegations as “the rantings of a drowning man.”

In a press release signed by the Particular Adviser to the Governor on Media and Technique, Kayode Akinmade, the federal government mentioned it was not shocked by the antics of the PDP chieftain, who’s at present underneath investigation by safety companies for acts of electoral violence and tried homicide associated to the Saturday polls.

The assertion added that Adebutu had develop into like a wounded lion making an attempt to save lots of face after his latest ordeal by the hands of safety brokers on account of his electoral malfeasance on Saturday.

The assertion mentioned, “We don’t discover it surprising {that a} man who aspired to control Ogun State however was roundly rejected by voters would declare {that a} governor who isn’t a signatory to native authorities accounts squandered council funds amounting to N214bn in 5 years.

“Which means, conceptually, that the mentioned native governments didn’t pay any salaries and didn’t execute any initiatives in these 5 years, and it says rather a lot a couple of governorship candidate whose personal working mate described him as an entire catastrophe.

“The actual fact is that at no time did Governor Abiodun contact a dime of LG funds in Ogun State, however Adebutu has to entertain his crowd.”