- Cars Bought From Personal Resources, Not Council Funds – Chairman’s Aide
Reactions have trailed the gifting of cars to chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State by the chairman of Osogbo Local Government, Mr. Saheed Onibonokuta.
Onibonokuta, who was elected in the October 15, 2022 local government election, which had only APC members as contestants, has in the last three months, presented brand new vehicles to four chieftains of the party in Osogbo.
The Osogbo APC local government chairman, whose legitimacy alongside others elected during the October 15, 2022, election is still subject to litigation, said gifting the chieftains the car was to appreciate their efforts and support for the party.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that local government activities have been paralysed since February 2025, when the APC chairmen and councillors returned to the LG secretariats across the state, following a judgement of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division.
During the mayhem that ensued when the officials who returned to offices were resisted by the members of the Peoples Democratic Party, six people, including the APC council chairman in Irewole LG, Remi Abass were killed at different locations across the state.
The crisis led to a stay off work by workers in the council areas following the directive of the state leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees.
However, the APC Yes or No Chairmen continued to go to the councils while those elected under the PDP were asked to stay at home by the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Due to the impasse, the monthly allocation due to local government areas from the federal government was withheld, prompting the State Government to approach the Supreme Court to seek redress.
Meanwhile, after months of being in court, a rumour emerged in September that the Federal Government had released the withheld funds to the Yes or No APC chairmen, a development that triggered reactions from the Peoples Democratic Party and members of the public.
The APC in Osun State in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, in September, confirmed that the Federal Government had released the withheld six-month allocations for the state’s local government areas.
The APC, however, denied that the funds were paid into the private accounts of council chairmen elected on the platform of the APC in October 2022.
Olabisi said, “It is not true that the said federal allocations are paid into the account of any of our local government council chairmen or any of the APC members or chieftain but into the local government councils’ accounts.”
But an Oyo State High Court restrained the United Bank for Africa from paying out any money from accounts opened in the names of the 30 Local Governments in Osun State by the court-sacked All Progressives Congress Local Government Chairmen and councillors.
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the Yes or No APC chairmen, however, received some funds from the federal government.
Following the alleged release of the funds, Onibonokuta in October, 2025, presented two brand new cars to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council area.
Speaking during the presentation, the APC council chairman said the gesture, which opens a series of the rollout of empowerment and life-changing initiatives for the residents of Osogbo local government, will spread to the nooks and crannies of the council area.
“We want to let our people know that this is a new dispensation. That is why we have started on this note. The task ahead of us is enormous and with the time we have, we will continue to do everything in our power to make life more meaningful for our people.
“This empowerment and support scheme will cut across every inhabitant of Osogbo LGA. Our leaders have tried and done a lot of work for us to be here today, and we must reciprocate by continuously extending our hands of fellowship to them.
“We cannot thank Baba Fefe and Baba Onibonokuta for everything they have done for us as a party in Osogbo,” he stated.
Less than three months later, Onibonokuta on Thursday, January 01, 2026, presented another two brand new cars to two chieftains of the APC in Osogbo local government.
The beneficiaries are APC Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Hon. Adeoye Adelakun and former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adegboyega Akintunde.
As he claimed during the presentation of the first batch of cars, Onibonokuta, while presenting the latest cars to the beneficiaries, also said the gesture marked the commencement of a series of empowerment and life-changing initiatives designed to positively impact residents of the Osogbo local government.
Sources told OSUN DEFENDER that the local government chairman, apart from gifting his party members cars, has allegedly not done anything at the grassroots level.
OSUN DEFENDER visited the Osogbo local government secretariat on Friday, and it was observed that the front of the council was littered with dirt, while a section of the secretariat fence had fallen.
Speaking on the development, a member of the APC in the local government who does not want his name in print for fear of victimisation, questioned the logic behind the gifting of cars to the party chieftains.
The APC members slam Onibonokuta for the gesture, noting that there were more important things to do than ‘waste’ council funds on party members.
“The local government chairman should please stop this jamboree of millions of vehicles giveaway. Did the chairman of the local government want to tell us that the former deputy speaker and another state house of assembly member of the state does not have any car in their garage anymore to warrant this gift?
“There are roads to be graded, markets to be lighted up, primary health centres without drugs and youth and agricultural development to look into instead of this wasteful expenditure. This is not what local government funds are meant for,” the APC member said.
The Coordinator, Centre for Social Justice and Justice Prosecution (CSJJP), Akin Akanji, while speaking on the matter, berated the APC local government chairman, noting that he has shown that he was only in office to please some people.
Akanji said gifting four brand new cars worth over N30 million while a lot of people at the grassroots are suffering was a sign that Onibonokuta was insensitive to the plight of those who voted for him.
“This is what they want to be using local government funds for. Imagine buying four brand new cars for APC members within three months. Is this not financial recklessness? Will the chairman say he bought the cars with his personal money?
“There are rumours that the withheld allocations were given to them. If this is true, I dread what these people will use the money for. If a chairman can’t come out to name the programmes and initiatives he has brought to his council but he is happy to show off presenting cars to his godfathers, then we are in for a real issue.
“It is high time for people to question our leaders. These people can’t just do whatever they want. The fund is not a personal fund, and if it is his personal money, he should come out and say so. Osogbo Local Government residents need an explanation,” Akanji noted.
- Cars Bought From Personal Resources, Not Council Funds – Chairman’s Aide
Reacting to the development, the Chief of Staff to Onibonokuta, Akeem Yusuff stated that the vehicles were not purchased with government funds.
Yusuff, in a chat with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday explained that the cars were procured from the personal purse of council officials, donated to facilitate the progress of party activities.
He also denied allegations that the council under Onibonokuta’s leadership had neglected critical infrastructure/governance business, stressing that efforts are in place to provide good governance for the citizenry.
“The claim that we bought cars for our party leaders from the government’s purse is largely untrue. We did not do that. What happened was that on monthly basis, we donate a percentage of our statutory salaries to the party at the local government level.
“It is part of the initiatives instituted by the party leadership to ensure that we give back to the party that has nominated everyone of us for the roles we are currently holding. It is the monies that accumulated from our donations that we used to get the cars for our revered leaders.
“Our administration has done a lot in terms of delivering good governance to the people. The issue of the fence and other dilapidating structures at the secretariat is being looked into. We cannot spend monies that is not well budgeted for. The repairs will be done once our 2026 budget is approved by the legislative council and cash backed.
“We have graded some roads, provided social services, met critical stakeholders, reached out to those who matter and set the tone for the growth of our people. We will continue to do more and I can assure residents of Osogbo Local Government that our Chairman, Hon. Saheed Onibonokuta Mufutau is working hard to realise the dreams and aspirants of the people,” he contended.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
