Diversion of L.G FUNDS IN OSUN: Group Drags Aregbesola Before U.N, ECOWAS

An Osun State based Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Civil
Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) has
dragged the State governor, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola before the
United Nations (UN), Economic Community of West African
States(ECOWAS),United Kingdom(UK) ,United State of America(USA) over
alleged repeal of democratic system in the third tier of government
and illegal diversion of local government funds, calling for the
intervention of the international community.

The group had earlier written a strong worded letter to President
Muhammadu Buhari and the both chamber of the National Assembly on the
anti-democratic posture of Aregbesola which was seriously had negative
impact on the lives of the affected masses of the State.

The group disclosed this in its four-page Letter signed by its
Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman and titled: “Report of
repeal of democratic system in the third tier of government and
illegal diversion of 30 local governments monthly funds by Osun State
governor, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Civil Societies Coalition for
the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) is calling for United Nations
Intervention”, which was forwarded to the United Nations Secretary
General, Mr. Banki Moon and copied U.S. President, British Prime
Minister and host of others.

The letter dated Tuesday 28th of June, 2016, which was attached with
the copies of the relevant documents, was made available to newsmen on
Sunday, stated that the action of the governor portends grave danger
for sustainability of the hard earned current Nigeria democracy in the
State.

The Letter reads in part: “We are constrained to write your good
office as one of the federating unit of Nigeria that belongs to the
United Nations (UN) for urgent intervention in our democratic life as
universally acceptable system of government ,because ,the office of
the Executive President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, General
Muhamamdu Buhari (rtd) and the anti-graft agencies had yet to bring
out their report on the illegality of our State Governor,Mr. Rauf
Adesoji Aregbesola in the suspension of democratic system in the 30
local government areas of the State as well as illegal diversion of
monthly Local Government funds of the affected council areas, upon
receiving our protest letters on the subject matter since all this
while.

“Having understood the effort of the member countries of the United
Nations (UN) to ensure that democracy as the best form of government
is adopted by the members’ country in all their federating units in
consonance with the General Provisions part 1(2) of the Nigeria 1999
Constitution as amended and United Nations Charter”.

The letter further reads thus: “Osun people, in respect of their
political and religious affiliations, totally rejected the illegal
suspension of democratic structure and continuing diversion of the
funds accruable to the Local Government areas of the State from
Federation Account, which is seriously affecting the even development
of the local masses of the State. Our concern is that the amended 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must be seen as
supreme and obey by all and sundry and any action that is
inconsistent with the Constitutional Provisions must be declared null
and void in line with the section 14 of the General Provision of
part1(3)”.

Comrade Sulaiman who alleged Aregbesola of refusing to conduct the
local government election which was contrary to the Section 7 of the
amended 1999 Constitution, since almost six (6) years of the present
administration in the State without any tangible genuine reason, which
according to the law of the land, should be held in three (3) years
interval, adding that this development was an affront of democratic
ethos as being preached by the United Nations Charter.

“Lastly, it is our humble request from the United Nations and
International Community to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari and
other appropriate authorities to stop the monthly allocations to the
Local Government areas of Osun State until Governor Rauf Aregbesola
returns the democratic structure to the third tiers of government in
the State without further delayed in line with the amended 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and United Nations
Charter on democracy”, it submitted.

It will be recalled that the State government under Aregbesola’s watch
had been under investigation of Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and (ICPC) over an alleged diversion of Local
Government funds since November 2010 to March, 2016 as a result of
Petition Letter authored by the Civil Societies Coalition for the
Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) to the anti-graft bodies.