ALL NIGERIAN GOVERNORS ARE GUILTY OF EMBEZZLING LG ALLOCATIONS

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By: Muftau Fatimo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has alleged that every state governor in Nigeria benefits from and misuses funds allocated to local governments.

Adebutu made the remarks at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta during a meeting with the Egba Traditional Council, where he sought the support and blessings of traditional rulers for his governorship ambition.

He was accompanied by his running mate, Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo; the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Iyabo Obasanjo; the Ogun State PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella; and other party leaders and candidates.

Addressing the traditional rulers, Adebutu declared that granting full financial autonomy to local governments would be one of the defining policies of his administration.

“I will do something that will stun this nation and put us in the right direction. Local governments shall get their own money,” he said.

He added: “We must make sure we get local government autonomy. I have been reiterating to you that I, Oladipupo Olatunde, son of Adebutu, was at the National Assembly twice, and I can boast that I didn’t embezzle public funds. How many politicians can say this?”

Adebutu accused governors across party lines of diverting local government funds.

“It’s not a party thing. Both APC and PDP, all the governors are embezzling local government allocations. It’s not a secret,” he said.

He argued that local councils were able to deliver more development when they had greater control over their finances.

On infrastructure financing, Adebutu said governments must adopt new approaches rather than relying on borrowing.

“You don’t borrow money for infrastructure anymore,” he said, while promising to construct roads that would improve connectivity between Ogun State and Lagos.

In his remarks, the State Chairman of the PDP, Abayomi Tella, lamented that the local government system in the state is in a state of collapse, recalling that as a former council chairman, he received N200 million as an allocation and used it to construct four roads within his local government.

He expressed concern that the current local government chairmen cannot point to any project of similar impact, attributing the situation to a lack of financial autonomy.

The PDP chairman said he strongly believes in Adebutu’s advocacy for local government autonomy, stressing that Adebutu is prepared and ready to lead the development of Ogun State.

The deputy governorship candidate, Sowunmi-Kolapo, called on her kinsmen to support her political aspiration, noting that she has continued to support the development of Egbaland.

Also speaking, the PDP candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Iyabo Obasanjo, said that after leaving the APC following her unsuccessful governorship bid, she came to believe that Adebutu has the vision and political will to actualise her aspirations and manifesto for the people.

Obasanjo further noted that no political party has a more formidable team in Egbaland than the PDP, urging Egba monarchs to throw their weight behind the party in the interest of the people.

In his welcome address, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, described Adebutu as “trustworthy and reliable,” declaring his support for the party’s flag bearer ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The Alake recalled his long-standing relationship with Adebutu’s father and expressed confidence in Adebutu’s character and leadership qualities.

“The son of a lion must resemble the lion. In fact, he is an even better version of his father,” Oba Gbadebo said.