Illegal Diversion of LG Fund: Osun SDP Lauds EFCC, Calls for True Investigation

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has been commended by the Osun state chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for taking a bold step to investigate the Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola over alleged diversion of 30 local government allocations.

The party also commended the effort of the petitioner, the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS), for alerting the commission of how the state government has been able to mismanage the monthly allocations meant for the “general benefit and development of the locals.”

The state chairman of the SDP, Chief Ademola Ishola stated this in a release titled “Let the EFCC’S Searchlight Flash Beam on Osun.”

According to the statement, “In democracy, there should be equal treatment of individuals no matter the position or the office one occupies, and this is exactly what we believe the EFCC as a commission is doing now.

Ishola, however, charged the commission to be proactive in its dealing as he said there are many boiling issues to be intervened in by the commission in a short while. “There are lots of works for the commission to do in this state. A lot of things have gone wrong, especially in terms of financial aspect.

“The issue of Local Government funds is just a minor out of the several where the state government under the watch of Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has rubbed us of our right and resources,” the statement said.

The party chairman, in his remarks, gave kudos to the commission and the group that originated the petition, urging it to continue fighting the course of the people of the state all the time without fear or favour.

“We however appreciate the petitioner, CSCEOS, for its concern about the present condition of Osun state, while we thank the commission for intervening and showing interest in the allegation level against the governor. We hope that at the end of the day, the commission will come out with good result.

“However, we use this occasion to remind the commission that several petitions against Mr Aregbesola on several allegations ranging from mismanagement of public fund to contracts price inflation and others, had been forwarded to the commission’s office in the past, and nothing had been done about them. And Osun people are demanding for steps to be taken immediately on the previous petitions already on the commission’s table.

“Therefore, as it may, we advise the commission not to allow itself to be intimidated or bought over by any power that be, and we again appeal to it to ensure that anyone that is culpable of the allegation of the ‘illegal diversion of 30 local governments monthly allocations’ as CSCEOS called it, let the person(s) feel(s) the heat, irrespective of whose of is gored.”

Ishola also averred that the commission’s mantra, ‘EFCC… Will get you anywhere, anytime’ must have positive effect on Osun state and Nigeria as a whole.