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Some of the immediate past Councillors of some local government councils in the State of Osun have alleged foul play in the payment of 25 per cent severance allowance by the State Government.
The former parliamentarians directly accused Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of selective payment of the severance allowance, claiming that some of the loyalists of the Minister Of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola have been denied payment.
Speaking under the aegis of Coalition of the Victimized Councillors, the ex-council lawmakers in a press statement made available to Adulawonews on Wednesday, said withholding their severance allowances is another onslaught on Aregbesola’s loyalists.
The statement was signed by Hon. Rasheed Raji Ropo- Odo-Otin North LCDA, Hon. Demola Owoade – Irewole North East LCDA,
Hon. Mukaila Uthman- Ede North Area Council, Hon. Rafiu Durodola – Orolu LGA,
Hon. Abdullateef Adeyeye – Ayedaade LGA and Hon. Busayo Eselebor – Osogbo West LCDA.
They all claimed that their severance allowances were withheld by the state government without any reasonable excuse.
The statement reads, “Mr. Governor, state of Osun, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola has continued his onslaught on the loyalists of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who are councillors in the last local government parliamentary government dispensation.
“The latest is the nonpayment of severance allowances for the councillors who are loyalists of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola without any allegations against them, while the remaining others are paid.”
The Coalition condemned the selective payment, maintaining that they have all served their people to their best capacity.
Dismissing the allegations, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adeleke Adebayo, said the ex-councilors’s claim is misleading and far from the truth.
Adeleke in a press statement said: “It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that some of the ousted political office holders in the council are claiming that their payment of Several Allowances, recently approved by Governor Gboyega Oyetola were withheld because of their loyalty to the former Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“To put the record straight, this insinuation was nothing but lies and deliberate conjectures meant to mislead the public on the activities of the ministry.
“It is correct that the severance allowances of some political office holders in councils were withheld until they get clearance from the Ministry of Local Government based on the fact that there are issues they need to clarify on their spendings and some other activities when they were serving.
“Such issues are vary from councils to councils and I don’t think that should generate issues, because some have shown up and they had been cleared, some were asked to wait until the allegations against them are proven to either be correct or wrong.
“So, it has nothing to do with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola or Governor Gboyega Oyetola, it is purely the policies that we have set out in the ministry that must be complied with. Attaching it to Aregbesola’s loyalists is deceptive, mischevious and was only meant to score cheap political point and gain undue sympathy.”
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