Residents of Osun State have raised questions over the disbursement of ₦2.25 billion by the local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress, as empowerment.
The residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER alleged that contrary to the claim by the council officials that the empowerment was for people across the state, the money was distributed to APC members.
OSUN DEFENDER recalled that the APC council chairmen in a statement signed by their leader, Mr Idowu Abiodun, last week, said they have commenced massive empowerment programme targeting over 45,000 residents across the state.
The empowerment programme was designed for the disbursement of 50,000 naira cash grant to each beneficiary in every council.
Abiodun noted that the empowerment initiative is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting existing small businesses in the localities.
“Each of the local governments will empower over 1,500 people giving every beneficiary 50,000 naira each for investment. The beneficiaries include; women, youths, elders, artisans, traders, business owners among others. This scheme is open to all,” he said.
However, residents have queried the modality for the distribution of the money, noting that members of the APC were the beneficiaries.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a resident of Ejigbo, Akin Olawuyi, alleged that those who got the empowerment funds in the local government were members of the APC.
Olawuyi faulted the claim by the APC chairmen that the empowerment was for all residents and called for a proper account of the funds distributed.
He said, “I want to tell you that the money was shared among APC members in my local government. It is a lie that the fund was distributed to empower everyone. They should have said the fund was meant for Osun APC members.”
Adeola Onabayo, a resident of Iwo, while corroborating Olawuyi, accused the APC chairmen of squandering local government funds.
Onabayo alleged that the APC chairmen were spending the local government funds without following due process, calling on the anti-graft agencies to look into the matter.
“It is so unfortunate that APC chairmen are using local government funds to empower their party chairmen. It is bad enough that they use our money to buy vehicles for their party leaders, they have not come again to dash APC members’ money in the name of empowerment. The anti-graft agencies should look into this.”
OSUN DEFENDER had in its April 20 edition, reported that concerns trailed the decision of the local government chairmen who were elected on October 15, 2022, particularly over the manner in which the funds were disbursed.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the concerns gained momentum after photos and videos of the programme emerged on social media, showing that large sums of cash were publicly displayed and shared in council areas including Ejigbo West LCDA, Olorunda, Obokun, Iwo, among others.
Efforts to get the reaction of the APC ALGON chairman proved abortive at the time of filing this report.
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.
