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| Hon. Ladi Adebutu |
ABEOKUTA - Hon. Ladi Adebutu has hinged the persistent zoning of the governorship candidate ticket to Ogun West area of the state to the failure of the party to retain in the last 10years.
Hon. Adebutu who spoke to journalists on Tuesday shortly after meeting with PDP members in the state, said the multiplicity of ethnicity in Ogun West prevented the party, from winning previous two governorship elections in the state.
He explained that, the party supported Chief Adetunji Olurin in 2011 and Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) in 2015 governorship elections respectively and both lost out at the polls.
He noted that, the Ogun West people rejected the candidates on the two occasions due to the ethnic differences in the senatorial district.
According to him, "zoning is by arrangement, I supported GNI as PDP candidate the best of my ability, but at a time, we were told that has failed. I supported Chief Olurin, it has failed. On these two occasions, it was mostly Ogun West people that rejected them. The multiplicity of ethnicity in Ogun West was much. The failure of PDP to retain power is because we kept on to the West. I am for a candidate from the West, but the West must be united and be in agreement."
Adebutu, equally accused Gov. Dapo Abiodun of alleged divertion of N64billion monthly allocation meant for the development of local government councils in the state.
The former House of Representatives member explained that the N64billion which was disbursed by the federal government in 21 months of Abiodun-led administration was allegedly taken over by the state government, while only salaries were paid to the LG councils.
He added that, the 20 LG councils of the state were allegedly under lock and key by the state government, saying there was no single project to show for the allocation received.
“What has resulted is an exhibition of crass truth that for the sake of appropriating fund belong to the third tier of government, 64 billion naira in 21 months belonging to the third tier of government essentially ended up with the state government.
“According to the Bureau of Statistics, 64 billion naira was disbursed nearly, only for the third tier of government to get salary and we have nothing to show for it.
“All the 20 council areas in the state were virtually under lock and key, no project you could see upon that in 21 months, Ogun state suffered", he said.
The PDP chieftain further attributed the alleged misappropriation of the LG allocation as factor responsible for an alleged irregularities in the just concluded council election held in the state.
Meanwhile, Adebutu had announced that All the candidates of the PDP who boycotted the just concluded local government election in the state would be rewarded accordingly.
He noted that the PDP withdrawal from the poll led to apathy during the election.
He accused the APC led government of intercepting the LG allocations “at will”, hence, the resistance to opposition during the LG poll.
Reacting to the allegation, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape described Adebutu’s claim as figment of his imagination.
He explained that the state have been having Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) meetings which was statutory and required by the law.
Afuape who claimed the JAAC was never held for 6 years noted that it was at the JAAC meeting that local governments’ funds were accessed and shared.
“Ogun state government will also publish very soon, the comprehensive financial reports of 20 local governments domiciled in the state in the national dailies,” he said.
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