Governor of Osun State, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, has demanded the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments, describing the continued occupation of council secretariats as a “crippling assault on grassroots governance.”

According to Mallam Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the governor, “The illegal occupation of local government secretariats by court-sacked APC chairmen and councillors has persisted for nearly a year, despite clear judgments by the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in November 2022, and affirmations by the Court of Appeal in 2025. These imposters are acting without any lawful mandate, and their actions are undermining democracy and the rule of law.”

In a statewide broadcast on Monday, Adeleke stressed that fresh local government elections were conducted in strict compliance with court orders, leading to the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.

The governor accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola of allegedly supporting the occupation with poli’re backing. He further alleged that local government workers who attempted to resume duty were harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs.

Central to Adeleke’s address was the withholding of local government funds. According to him, statutory allocations due to Osun local governments, now totaling about ₦130 billion, have not been released to the legal accounts of the councils since February 2025. The governor warned that the funds are vital for the payment of primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in 332 primary health care centres, council staff, traditional councils, and retirees.

“The state government has made painful sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost 12 months, but this is unsustainable,” Adeleke said. “Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely.”

He also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of allegedly allowing unauthorized persons to operate local government accounts, adding that senior bank officials involved are facing criminal prosecution. He questioned whether such actions would be tolerated in jurisdictions like New York or London, where the bank operates.

Appealing for federal intervention, Adeleke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the release of the withheld funds and to protect democratic institutions. He stressed that the President was not involved in the alleged illegality but urged him to rescue Osun local governments from what he described as an unlawful siege.

“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” he said, framing the crisis as a choice between constitutional order and naked impunity.

The governor urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and safeguarding their welfare.