Governor of Osun state, Ademola Adeleke has alleged that federal government is deliberately withholding funds meant for the state’s local governments for political reasons.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking through his deputy, Kola Adeusi, at the two-day South-West Summit on Democracy and Federalism in Ondo, Adeleke alleged that federal government has been using its authority to frustrate his administration because it belongs to a different political party than the one in power at the centre.
The Governor said the situation has severely affected local government operations and service delivery across Osun.
He described the state as a case study in how not to treat a sub-national entity in a democratic setting, accusing federal government of breaching constitutional provisions and politicising governance.
Adeleke said, “There is an ongoing wilful breach of the constitution to deprive a sub-national entity of its due rights simply because it does not belong to the same party with the ruling party at the centre.”
The Governor explained that since taking office in 2022, his administration has consistently engaged federal ministries and agencies, responded promptly to official communications, and supported national programmes.
However, he said cooperation has been undermined by partisan politics, as federal projects and initiatives are often directed through party structures instead of the state government.
He further accused certain political figures at the national level of obstructing efforts to rehabilitate federal roads and revive abandoned projects in Osun.
Adeleke alleged that federal security agencies have been providing cover for ruling party members who break the law, claiming that some officials openly boast about using security forces to intimidate state authorities and influence political control.
He said, “In Osun today, federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials. Worst still, they have security cover when making such provocative declarations.”
Despite these alleged setbacks, the Governor highlighted that Osun has made measurable progress in education, healthcare, debt reduction, and infrastructure.
According to him, the state now leads the South-West in access to primary healthcare, has cut its debt by more than 40 percent, and moved from 33rd to seventh position in national examination rankings.
Calling for unity and development across the South-West, Adeleke urged regional leaders to move beyond partisan divisions. He advocated for the creation of a South-West Circular Cargo Railway, the establishment of dry ports, and the strengthening of Amotekun as a regional security network.
He said, “The South-West must elevate power applications beyond partisan considerations. We must never deploy federal power against ourselves no matter our political differences.”
