Fraud allegation: Council chairs beg Abiodun, councilors disown Adedayo

The chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, has apologised for what many deemed as his “rash and sweeping” allegation of zero funds allocation to the 20 local government areas of Ogun state against Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Wale Adedayo, a veteran journalist in a letter addressed to the All Progressives Congress leader and ex-governor of the state, Aremo Segun Osoba, accused Abiodun of routinely withholding federal allocations as well as ecological funds meant for the 20 LGAs.

Adebayo also urged the elder statesman to intervene and help end the alleged stifling of the Councils since 2021.

He also followed up with a petition which he forwarded to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding a probe of the governor over the alleged diversion of local government funds.

But the Ijebu East Council boss apologised to Governor Abiodun on Tuesday night over the allegations. Nineteen other chairmen led by the ALGON chairman in the state, Babatunde Emilola-Gazal also joined Adedayo in the Governor’s Office, Okemosan, to ask for forgiveness on behalf of Adedayo, who regretted his action, prostrated and begged the governor.

In a trending short video clip, the council chairmen, who besieged the Governor’s office, were also seen prostrating, and begging passionately for Abiodun’s forgiveness on behalf of Adedayo.

“Your Excellency, we have come here to beg you as a father that you are, as a father of all in the state, we want you to forgive us.

“Your Excellency, if you don’t forgive us, who do we run to? So, on behalf of all of us, I am tendering this apology, and in particular, on behalf of Wale Adedayo,” Emilola-Gazal said, and subsequently prostrated alongside others before the governor.

Responding, Governor Abiodun declared that he had always carried out his responsibilities as the governor with “every sincerity of purpose and truthfulness,” adding that when the news of the allegations was out, he told himself he could not be the particular “Dapo Abiodun” being spoken of.

Meanwhile, the Supervisory Councilors in Ijebu east council, have disassociated themselves from the allegations made by the Adedayo, against the governor.