Bimbo Adekanmbi, the gubernatorial candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM was live on a program aired by the Broadcasting Corporations of Oyo state BCOS, an organization that has continued to be assaulted by his, mentor, Seyi Makinde.
A couple of weeks ago, he was on a private Radio station, their usual place of comfort and we rebuked him for neglecting the BCOS for a private Radio station.
His appearance today on BCOS could therefore be seen as an afterthought.
I will deal with his interview on a latter date, but I am very happy that, once again, the hypocritical fellow maintained his stand on the question of Local Government Autonomy.
Once again, for Bimbo Adekanmbi, we must remain in EGYPT.
We must continue to have a Local Government system where the state Governor will continue to give peanuts to the 33 Local Governments despite the hundreds of millions of Naira that has continued to flow into the purses of the 33 Local Governments.
I was disappointed, listening to someone, who claimed to attend schools abroad, arguing his points like a stark illiterate.
Let me address the issues he raised as reasons for his wicked conclusion that Local Government Autonomy is impossible.
First, he said only the Federal Government can grant Local Government Autonomy.
He also said that Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli did nothing to ensure that Local Government Autonomy becomes a reality as a sitting Senator!
Infact, the allegation against Senator Alli on the issue of not doing anything on the floor of the Senate regarding Local Government Autonomy is not only hypocritical, it is also childish to say the least.
What exactly should a Senator have done after the Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled in favor of Local Government Autonomy? Carry his gun and start shooting around?
I have kept saying it, that the Law of this Nation is what the Supreme Court says it is and the Supreme Court has held that Financial autonomy for Local Governments is sacrosanct.
So, what else is a Senator expected to do?
Assuming the Supreme Court didn’t rule on the matter and Nigerians are desirable of having financial autonomy for Local Governments, there are legislative processes for altering the Laws of Nigeria and it is beyond a single Senator.
It is a process involving the Federal Executive, the National Legislature, State Legislatures and State Governors, but, in Adekanmbi’s myopic reasoning, a Senator, out of the 109 Senators we have in the Senate should be blamed for an action that should involve the listed tier of Governments.
Oh! What a disappointment.
The reality, however, in the present instance, is that, no Senator is expected to do anything before Local Government Autonomy becomes a reality.
A judgment has been passed in favor of financial autonomy for Local Governments and Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli will comply with that judgement beginning from the 29th day of May, 2027.
Bimbo Adekanmbi has also demonstrated that he is a pathological liar.
He said that States have directed the submission of Bank accounts for the payments of direct monthly allocations for Local Governments, but the Federal Government refused to commence the payment.
I challenge him to seek the permission of his mentor, Governor Seyi Makinde, to publish the letter Oyo state Government wrote to the Federal Government for the payment of direct monthly allocations to the 33 Local Governments.
As we speak, I can boldly say that Local Governments in Osun state are receiving their monthly allocations directly from the Federal Government.
One fact gladdens my heart. Local Governments Career officers and Staffs are very intelligent.
They need no one to explain Bimbo Adekanmbi’s hypocrisy for them.
They must have been able to see through him, but, for the benefits of members of the public, let me puncture the dooms day explanations of Bimbo Adekambi regarding the fears around payments of salaries under an autonomous Local Governments.
I will come back to his continuous cries about the experience of the Military era.
Now, Bimbo is saying, what if the monthly allocations from Abuja is not enough to pay salaries and I was like, is this man praying that we experience a natural disaster in this Nation?
I will explain the model which we are currently preaching to discard the naysaying by Bimbo Adekambi.
Immediately the Governor directs the Local Governments to submit their accounts for direct payments of their monthly allocations, an Executive Order, backing the deduction for all first line charges would be made.
With that, a legal framework is on ground to protect the regular and timely payments of salaries, pension and other allowances of Teachers, Local Government Staffs and pensioners.
Like I said, Local Government Career officers and Staffs are very brilliant individuals and with a degree of freedom, they know how to save for the future.
These people are fantastic Administrators. They only require freedom to act positively.
So, with what Local Governments are receiving these days and with the right framework, where is the fear of unpaid salaries coming from?
Bimbo Adekanmbi’s continuous reference to the Military era when Government operated by Decrees is not only unfortunate, it is also wicked. He deliberately left out the details that led to the crisis that affected the whole Nation at the time he referenced.
Unfortunately for him, he explained a situation that affected the whole of Nigeria, but he kept harping on Ibadan North Local Government for hypocritical reasons. Such childishness will hold no water.
The circumstances that led to the problems of that time are no longer present in our Country and will never again be.
I know that no one would ask Adekanmbi this question, but I will ask him through this medium and I challenge him to answer them.
How much has been received by the 33 Local Governments of Oyo state since Tinubu became president?
How much does each Local Government pay as salaries, pension and allowances on a monthly basis?
What remains after the first line charges were deducted from each of the 33 Local Governments and how is the remaining funds spent?
Before he begins to spread his message of doom, he should first answer these questions. Let us see if the Local Governments will be bouyant to stand on their own or not.
It is very clear. Bimbo Adekanmbi will continue the further destruction of our Local Governments from where Makinde stops if he is elected as the Governor of Oyo state and God Almighty will forbid it.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest Court of the Land.
If Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli complies with its judgement which guarantees freedom for Local Governments, heavens will not fall.
Instead, the 33 Local Governments and by extension, Oyo state will be ushered into an era of unprecedented development.
Bimbo Adekambi is free to continue his campaign of doom and calumny.
Oyo will not choose another looter of the resources of its Local Governments.
Sola Abegunde.
