Ile-Ife (Osun): The Osun Council of Traditional Rulers has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the prompt release of the withheld allocations due to the local government areas in the state.
The traditional rulers said that the non-payment of the allocations had paralysed activities in all the local governments in the state.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday in Ile-Ife.
The communique was read by the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin.
The council explained that traditional rulers, being natural leaders and closest to the people, are critical stakeholders in nation-building, human development, and community engagement.
“As purely apolitical fathers of the land, we are not interested in the politics, individual differences, or whatever that could be responsible for the seizure of the local government allocations.
“Our interest is to see a working society and functional local government for the benefit of all, especially the vulnerable individuals across our communities.
“It is an open secret that the traditional institutions across the country are being upheld through the five per cent deductions from the Local Government allocation, and when this is not available, it will be almost impossible for us to serve our people adequately,” the council said.
They also expressed concern that the council secretariats had suddenly become inactive due to the withholding of allocations necessary for their smooth operation.
The council stated that the issues leading to the withholding of allocations were unrelated to the ordinary people, who were currently bearing the brunt.
The traditional rulers said that the continued seizure of the funds would deepen poverty and stall development across Osun communities.
“It is on this note that we call on Mr President to intervene as the father of the nation.
“We will be glad if the President can hear the cries of common community dwellers across our farmlands and villages, suffering hugely from the total deactivation of local government activities for several months,” the traditional rulers said.
The local governments in the state had been in crisis following the Feb. 10 judgment by the Court of Appeal, Akure.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that the judgment did not reinstate the sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, while APC insisted on their return to office.
