The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, alongside the Traditional Rulers Council of Osun State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the lingering crisis over control of local government councils and the withholding of their allocations.
The crisis, fuelled by disputes between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite conflicting court rulings, has stalled governance at the grassroots level.
In a statement issued on Tuesday after a meeting of monarchs at his palace, Ooni Ogunwusi, who serves as chairman of the Osun Council of Obas, lamented that the situation has crippled activities across the 30 local government areas and the Area Office in the state.
“The traditional institutions and communities across Osun have been negatively impacted by the nonpayment of funds as and when due,” he said. “Traditional rulers, being natural leaders and closest to the people, are critical stakeholders in nation-building and community engagement, and they must be empowered to perform optimally through a functioning local government administration.”
The Ooni stressed that traditional rulers are apolitical fathers of the land, noting that their only concern is for society to function effectively for the benefit of all, especially the most vulnerable.
He urged President Tinubu to, as a matter of public importance, resolve the issues delaying the prompt release of local government allocations across Osun State.
He explained, “It is an open secret that the traditional institutions across the country are being upheld through the five percent deductions from the Local Government allocation, and when this is not available, it will be almost impossible for us to serve our people adequately.
“It amazes us daily to see secretariats have suddenly become inactive because the allocations meant for their smooth running have been withheld for several months, over issues that have nothing to do with the common people currently suffering the brunt.”
He added, “Our markets, community roads and other responsibilities of the Local Government are suffering badly, and we, as traditional rulers, cannot afford to pretend like we do not see this rot.
“It is on this note that we call on Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to intervene as father of the nation. We will be glad if Mr. 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.
“Either political or judicial, we wish to implore Mr. President that resolving the crisis will benefit Osun State greatly, especially her rural communities and also reenergize the traditional institution across the land to continue to complement the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government in the prompt delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Ooni boasted that President Tinubu can resolve whatever might have been responsible for the blockade of Osun State local government allocations.
