• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Thursday, December 7, 2023
  • Login
Vital News
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
Vital News
No Result
View All Result
Home National Opinion

Re: The wind That Blew Dapo Abiodun’s Rump (Of Wale Adedayo and media bias against Governor Abiodun) by Kayode Akinmade

Vital News by Vital News
September 6, 2023
in Opinion
0
The Suspension of Wale Adedayo, Suspended Chairman, Ijebu East Local Government : What You Should Know  by Hon Fasheyi Adesuji Akindele
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

 

 

 

Re: The wind That Blew Dapo Abiodun’s Rump (Of Wale Adedayo and media bias against Governor Abiodun)

By Kayode Akinmade

RelatedStories

Oba of Benin, Ancestors And Lagos By Lasisi Olagunju

BRUTALISATION OF AJAERO : MATTERS MISCELLANEOUS By Ray Ekpu

Kogi Assembly’s Bold Move On Compulsory Treatment Of Gunshot Victims : A Welcome Development by Bayo Aka

Why Do Retired Justices And Judges Become Advocates For Judicial Reform Only After Retirement? by Unini Chioma

BECAUSE of the privations to which Nigerians have been subjected over the years, there is a tendency in the land to assume the worst of leaders. Guilty or not, governors face the guillotine, condemned to hell by our elite commentariat.

And that is why it is not surprising that in the latest scenario involving the recently suspended chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Hon. Wale Adedayo and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the allegation by the latter that the former had been stealing and/or diverting local government (LG) funds are typically being treated as gospel truth while the rebuttals by the Ogun State Government and the constitutional organ responsible for disbursing the funds, the Ogun State Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC), the chairmen of local councils and even the Federal Government are being shunned.
Some commentators are literally asking for the governor’s head on a charger, throwing rationality, the spirit of inquisitiveness, logic and fairness into the trashcan. Sadly, the piece, The wind that blew Dapo Abiodun’s rump, authored by the respected Sunday Tribune columnist, Dr. Festus Adedayo, falls into this category.

Essentially a rehash of the LG chairman’s claims (“Adedayo…alleged that this blind thievery began immediately Abiodun took over the reign of office in May, 2019, leading to “zero allocation” of funds to develop the councils,” etc), Dr. Adedayo’s piece deplores the alleged stealing of LG funds by governors, relying on a Premium Times report wherein the reporter was purportedly “told by sources among local government chairmen in Ogun State that monies enter council accounts in the morning, and they develop wings by evening.”

This, Dr Adedayo asserts, “is a pattern adopted by many of the state governments.” Well, there is no thievery by Governor Abiodun in Ogun State.

It is a terrible thing to hang an innocent person simply because of the office that he occupies.

Just how can Governor Abiodun, who by law is not a signatory to the JAAC which disburses money to LGs, tamper with LG funds?

Because there is so much misconception about LG operations, media commentators often look at issues at face value and rush to judgment instead of doing a little investigation.

The structure in LGs in Ogun State is not different from the one in other states. JAAC has its responsibilities as a constitutional provision, the organ that identifies and sorts out first line charges.

It came about after long agitations by teachers and LG workers over the delay in the payment of their salaries and emoluments.

In the last 26 months that Wale Adedayo has been chairman, the records show that he attended JAAC meetings, where LG funds are disbursed after being received from the Federation Account, 15 times.

His sudden claim of zero allocation to councils in Ogun State is therefore curious, to say the least. Records show that, like other LG chairmen, he has collected N3 million every month as imprest, while his council also shared from all the allocations given since 2019 when Governor Abiodun came on board, including the N5.2 billion allocation shared in August this year; the N4.4 billion shared in July, the 5.2bn shared in June and the N4.5 billion shared in May. So, where did he get his zero allocation from?

Last Friday, the Ogun State government established the fact that it had invested N1.8bn in executing projects in the councils.

This was at a press conference addressed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tokunbo Talabi, and the Economic Adviser and Commissioner-designate, Mr Dapo Okubadejo.

Indeed, as the government argued, if the LGs had not been getting their allocations since 2019, how then had they been paying teachers, healthcare workers, members of traditional councils, pensioners and local government and security votes for the LG chairmen?

Rather than stealing the LG funds, the state government has actually been augmenting their allocations to enable them meet their obligations.

It is a fact that in 2020, N43.121 billion was budgeted for first line charges, while N34.750 billion was received from the federation account for the 20 LGs, leaving a deficit of N6.619 billion.

The total allocation released for the LGs in 2021 was N38.723 billion, while payment for first line charges was put at N47.845 billion. In 2022, the LGs got N48.074 billion from the Federation Account, whereas the actual amount needed to pay first line charges was N54.182 billion.

As 2023 dawned, therefore, there was a deficit of almost N17.4 billion, paid for by the state government.

It is not for nothing that members of the Ogun JAAC debunked Wale Adedayo’s slanderous and libelous proclamations, confirming that there were instances when the state government had to augment shortfalls to allow all the LGs to take care of all their first-line charges.

For a chairman in office for more than two years to suddenly claim zero allocation to Ogun councils smacks of pure mischief.

This is the same person who was collecting N3 million every month for imprest. He lied recklessly and shamelessly just to create mischief and stoke crisis in the state.

For those who do not know, money is paid directly to LG accounts and like governors, chairmen as CEOs of LGs do not issue cheques but only give approvals. Governor Abiodun is not a signatory to the LG accounts.

Local Government funds are paid directly to their accounts, from which the civil servants there disburse the money to the beneficiaries (emoluments, salaries). On the allegation of money disappearing, we need to ask questions, as no state government can take money from JAAC.

During the COVID-19 crisis, most of the LGs did not pay PAYEE tax because of the shortfall in federal allocations.

After the crisis, the Ogun State government then had to deduct this tax.

But before then, the money had to get to their accounts first, and the civil servants in charge had to indicate the months for which the payee deductions were being made, because the law is that every taxable adult must pay tax.

Strangely, these payee deductions were characterized as money disappearing from LG accounts, and our columnists did not even bother to investigate the matter properly.

Rather, they resorted to character assassination just because, in the face of incontrovertible evidence, Wale Adedayo had said, “I know for a fact that my Ijebu East Local Government is not owing Abeokuta one naira!” Even Lucifer does not lie in this manner.

Yes, we all know that because of the suffering in the land, people are not happy with governors. However, we still cannot generalize.

It is unfair to impugn the integrity and image of Governor Abiodun just because he is governor. He also deserves fair hearing.

Again, a lot of negativity has been ascribed to the Ogun LG chairmen’s meeting with Governor Abiodun, but it is important to make the following clarifications.

First, the chairmen had met with the Ogun State SSG, Mr. Joseph Talabi, requesting a meeting with the governor to tender an apology over Adedayo’s fabrications, because they knew the facts of the case.

During the meeting with the SSG, they, however, raised the issue of the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Local Government Affairs who had issued a statement calling on them to utilise the funds released to their various councils judiciously, whereas the money was meant for the payment of salaries.

The statement led to people harassing them in their LGs.

The SSG apologized, acknowledging that the statement was misleading.

Still, he pointed out that it was not an excuse for Wale Adedayo to fabricate falsehood against the governor.

The chairmen apologized and said they needed to meet the governor.

Adedayo was in both meetings, and the act of prostrating to the governor was spontaneous; he never demanded for it. It is therefore cheeky to call him an emperor.

Since Governor Abiodun came on board, Ogun State has been peaceful and calm.

Unlike in the past, there have been no violence or political assassinations. Some people must not be allowed to throw the state into crisis.

The media should be interrogating, not venerating him.

Tags: DapofundsLGWade
Previous Post

Board Postpones NPFL 2023/2024 League Season Kick-off

Next Post

Nigeria, India Sign $1bln Pact For Local Defence Production

Vital News

Vital News

RelatedStories

Oba of Benin, Ancestors And Lagos By Lasisi Olagunju
Opinion

Oba of Benin, Ancestors And Lagos By Lasisi Olagunju

December 4, 2023
BRUTALISATION OF AJAERO : MATTERS MISCELLANEOUS By Ray Ekpu
Opinion

BRUTALISATION OF AJAERO : MATTERS MISCELLANEOUS By Ray Ekpu

November 15, 2023
Kogi Assembly’s Bold Move On Compulsory Treatment Of Gunshot Victims : A Welcome Development by Bayo Aka
Opinion

Kogi Assembly’s Bold Move On Compulsory Treatment Of Gunshot Victims : A Welcome Development by Bayo Aka

November 7, 2023
Why Do Retired Justices And Judges Become Advocates For Judicial Reform Only After Retirement? by Unini Chioma
Judiciary

Why Do Retired Justices And Judges Become Advocates For Judicial Reform Only After Retirement? by Unini Chioma

October 29, 2023
China’s Belt and Road Initiative @10 : A Decade Of Remarkable Achievements and Development  by Lawal Sale
Opinion

China’s Belt and Road Initiative @10 : A Decade Of Remarkable Achievements and Development  by Lawal Sale

October 14, 2023
Next Post
Nigeria, India Sign $1bln Pact For Local Defence Production

Nigeria, India Sign $1bln Pact For Local Defence Production

Nigeria, India Sign $1bln Pact For Local Defence Production

Tinubu Secures $14bln Investment From India

Lagos Tasks Operators Of Orphanages On Best Practices

Lagos Tasks Operators Of Orphanages On Best Practices

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Recommended

Mustapha donates N15millon , vehicle to Ilorin Durbar Committee

1 year ago
How Bandits Shot Dead 7 Worshippers Inside Kaduna Mosque

Katsina Govt Donates N20mln To Families Of 33 Vigilante Members Killed By Bandits

3 months ago
Buhari Visits Kogi Dec. 29 To Commission Bello’s Legacy Projects

Kogi Sets Up Committee To Enforce Supreme Court Judgment On Validity Of Old N1,000, N500 Notes

9 months ago
Supreme Court Extends Validity Of Old N200, N500, N1000 Banknotes Indefinitely

Supreme Court Extends Validity Of Old N200, N500, N1000 Banknotes Indefinitely

1 week ago

Instagram

    Please install/update and activate JNews Instagram plugin.

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

Topics

Abiodun Abuja Africa APC arrest Atiku attack Bandits Bello Buhari CBN cement church Court Dangote death drugs EFCC Election elections FG FRSC guber gunmen Hajj INEC kidnap Kill Kogi Lagos NDLEA Niger Nigeria Ogun Oil PDP Police road Security Senate Tinubu train tribunal troops youths
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Relocates Sitting From Lokoja To Abuja

Police Commence Investigation Into Gunmen Attack On Secretary Of Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal

PDP Dissolves State, LG, Ward Excos in Kogi, Appoints 7-member Caretaker Committee

Northern Governors Express Shock, Sadness Over Killing Of Kaduna Maulud Celebrants

Over 10,000 Vulnerable Persons Receive FG Grant In Kogi

How I Lost 34 Family Members To Army Drone Strikes – Idris Dahiru

Trending

Polaris Bank MD Thumbs Up Ogun In Infrastructural Development, Conducive Business Environment
Business

Polaris Bank MD Thumbs Up Ogun In Infrastructural Development, Conducive Business Environment

by Vital News
December 6, 2023
0

The Managing Director of Polaris Bank, Mr. Adekunle Sonola says Ogun State is one of the most...

Ogun Promises To Provide Shelter For Victims Of Gender Based Violence

Ogun Promises To Provide Shelter For Victims Of Gender Based Violence

December 6, 2023
Bandits Shot Dead 3 Policemen At Zamfara Checkpoint

Ogun Police Arrest 5 Robbery Suspects, Recover 2 Cars

December 6, 2023
Kogi Guber : Tribunal Orders INEC To Allow, SDP, Ajaka Lawyers Access To BVAS, Other Election Materials

Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Relocates Sitting From Lokoja To Abuja

December 6, 2023
Bandits Shot Dead 3 Policemen At Zamfara Checkpoint

Police Commence Investigation Into Gunmen Attack On Secretary Of Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal

December 6, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Vital News

Vital News is an online newspaper with a mission to uphold professional journalism by reporting and publishing only facts and figures-based news reports across Nigeria and beyond.

Recent News

  • Polaris Bank MD Thumbs Up Ogun In Infrastructural Development, Conducive Business Environment December 6, 2023
  • Ogun Promises To Provide Shelter For Victims Of Gender Based Violence December 6, 2023
  • Ogun Police Arrest 5 Robbery Suspects, Recover 2 Cars December 6, 2023

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

© 2022 Vital News - . All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security

© 2022 Vital News - Vital News by Vital News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In