There is an ongoing back and forth in Osun State as some former local government political office holders are accusing the State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola of withholding their severance package because of their loyalty to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Some of the ex-council officers in a statement obtained by InsightMedia on Wednesday called on Oyetola to immediately order the payment of their entitlement.
The statement was signed by Rasheed Raji Ropo, Odo-Otin North LCDA; Hon. Demola Owoade, Irewole North East LCDA; Hon. Mukaila Uthman, Ede North Area Council; Hon. Rafiu Durodola, Orolu LGA; Hon. Abdullateef Adeyeye Ayedaade LGA) and Hon. Busayo Eselebor, Osogbo West LCDA.
The statement partly read, “Now the latest is the nonpayment of severance allowances for the councillors who are loyalist of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola without any allegations against them, while the remaining others are paid.
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“However, we feel that this madness must stop because it is a sign of weakness from the government we put in place who are decimating our party people who have served their people with all their might are now being denied their legitimate entitlement.
“Now, harassment, intimidation, fantom investigation, and mendacious allegations is the order of the day for the loyalist of Rauf. We are waiting for 4+4 to be actualized by the PDP and SDP cabinet in APC government. We vehemently say No to a divisive politics in the state of Osun.
“We condemn every selective payment for councillors who have served their people in their best capacity. We want all our entitlements fully paid to all councillors without delay. We reject on its entirety the 25% payment of the severance allowance.”
Why we withhold their entitlements – LG Commissioner
In his a swift reaction, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke described the statement by former local government officials as lies and deliberate attempt to mislead public.
Adeleke, who admitted that the severance package of some of the ex-council officers were withheld, said the action was taken as a necessity as some officers have issues to clear at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He said the withholding of their entitlement has nothing to do with their loyalty to Aregbesola.
The statement partly read, “It is correct that the severance allowances of some political office holders in councils were withheld until they get clearance from the Ministry of Local Government based on the fact that there are issues they need to clarify on their spendings and some other activities when they were serving.
“Such issues are vary from councils to councils and I don’t think that should generate issues, because some have shown up and they had been cleared, some were asked to wait until the allegations against them are proven to either be correct or wrong.
“I believe those who do not have anything to fear or hide should be bold enough to show up and state their cases, rather than attaching political meaning to it.
“So, it has nothing to do with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola or Governor Gboyega Oyetola, it is purely the policies that we have set out in the ministry that must be complied with. Attaching it to Aregbesola’s loyalists is deceptive, mischevious and was only meant to score cheap political point and gain undue sympathy.
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“Note that the signatories to the baseless press statement issued on the matter were not only the set of people affected, others were also involved, but they deliberately assembled as only the set of people involve. One of the signatories, Demola Owoade actually showed up and was told to await the outcomes of the issues involving him.”
Many Tobalase Group members affected – JK Oloyede
Speaking with our Correspondent, Hon. Adekunle Oloyede, the immediate chairman of Irepodun South LCDA and Coordinator of Tobalase Group, a group loyal to Oyetola among the ex-council chairmen said the issue affected several members of his group.
He said he was also affected but reported to the Ministry and it was solved in minutes with the Council Manager of his LCDA.
“I just got mine few days ago. I was not given at the outset because my Council Manager said I had an issue to clear at the Ministry. I went there to dialogue with the commissioner and the CM was also invited and the whole issue was resolved in fee minutes.
“Stating that it affects only those loyal to Aregbesola is a lie. Many people in our group are still waiting to receive their entitlements because they have not been able to resolve their issue at the local government Ministry. Those writing petition are just being political and mischievous.”
The issues
It would be recalled that shortly before leaving office in February, Governor Gboyega Oyetola approved that all council officers should go home with Toyota Muscle Camry and Toyota Corolla cars in their custody as part of their severance package.
Insight Media gathered that some former political office holders also went away with some vehicles and have not returned them till now.
When contacted, the immediate past Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Hon Abiodun Idowu confirmed to InsightMedia that some council officers are in possession of vehicles of the local governments.
Idowu said the upon leaving offices, Council Managers have submitted a report about them where some officers were alleged of keeping some properties of the councils in their possession.
Idowu said, “It’s true that some of our colleagues are still in keeping some properties of the council in their possession. After we left office, Council Managers who took over from us were asked to submit written reports as regards all of us and they alleged some of us of withholding some properties of the councils. I learned this from the officials of the Ministry.
“I was also affected too. In my LG, two councillors took away a vehicle and the Council Manager said they can’t be sharing a car, so they were asked to return it but they didn’t. So I had to go to the Ministry in company of the two councillors to resolve it. It was after then that I gained access to my money”.
