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A former Minister of Power and Steel and the Convener of the Oyo State Grassroots Financial Accountability Initiative, Elder Wole Oyelese, on Friday, challenged Governor Seyi Makinde to account for statutory funds due to the state’s thirty-three local government areas.
He said the governor should address questions surrounding local government finances as the state government could not legitimately demand accountability from Abuja while failing to provide a transparent account of funds meant for grassroots development.
“Governor Makinde, your demand for financial accountability from the federal government is legitimate, but accountability cannot be selective.
“If you insist that Abuja must release money due to Oyo state, the people of Oyo state are equally entitled to ask what has happened to the funds due to their 33 local governments in the past eight years,” he said.
He acknowledged the governor’s right to demand payment of any outstanding funds legitimately owed the state by the federal government, but insisted that such a demand did not absolve his administration of the responsibility to account for the local governments’ allocations.
He noted that the issue went beyond political disagreements between the state and federal governments, saying the handling of local government finances had direct implications for the welfare of residents, particularly those in rural communities who depend on grassroots authorities for essential services.
He also demanded explanations for all deductions, charges and transfers made after the funds reached the local governments, including the identities of those who authorised such transactions and the legal provisions under which they were carried out.
He further asked for details of expenditure by each local government, the projects on which the funds were spent.
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