Oyetola's aide tackles Osun Assembly, labels LG fund allegations reckless propaganda

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has dismissed allegations by the Osun State House of Assembly regarding the disbursement of local government funds as reckless propaganda.

He characterized the claims as a desperate attempt to distract from the state government’s failures and ongoing legal challenges.

In a press statement, Akinola labeled the Assembly’s assertions fabricated and malicious.

He reaffirmed that Nigerian local governments possess financial autonomy, placing them beyond the control of any individual or entity, including state governments.

He emphasized that Minister Oyetola holds no constitutional or statutory role in local government finance and has never interfered in council operations or issued directives to financial institutions.

Akinola argued that the statement attributed to Speaker Adewale Egbedun merely recycled discredited narratives previously promoted by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

According to Akinola, these efforts are a bid to unlawfully reassert state control over local funds in defiance of the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court judgment, which granted full financial autonomy to local governments and barred governors from hijacking their allocations.

The Special Adviser also highlighted a February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated duly elected local government
chairmen in Osun.

He noted that because the state government failed to appeal the decision, it remains final and binding. Akinola dismissed descriptions of the chairmen as illegal as intellectually dishonest, noting they are protected by superior court records.

Akinola further accused the Adeleke administration of creating administrative bottlenecks by instituting twelve separate court cases on the matter.

He also alleged that the state government instigated and sponsored an 11-month strike by local government workers to paralyze council operations and frustrate their autonomy.

Condemning the misinformation spread by the Speaker, Akinola cautioned Egbedun against making reckless and insulting remarks toward President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He concluded by calling on civil society and the public to defend constitutional democracy and the rule of law against attempts to circumvent judicial pronouncements.