By Wándé T. Àjàyí
The recent presentation of Toyota Hilux vehicles to newly sworn-in LG Chairmen by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa raises several critical questions regarding transparency, financial autonomy, and adherence to Presidential directives.
Firstly, what is the source of funding for these vehicles? Was this expenditure drawn from state funds, or was it taken from local government allocations? If it is the latter, does this not contradict President Tinubu’s directive granting financial autonomy to local governments?
If LGs are truly autonomous, why is the Governor still making financial decisions on their behalf? Does this suggest that the Governor is still controlling local government funds in violation of the President’s directive?
EFCC recently issued warnings to both governors and local government chairmen regarding the proper management of allocations. With this development, is the Governor confident that such spending will not attract scrutiny from anti-corruption agencies? Or is he above the law?
Look, I agree that service delivery at the grassroots is important but governance should prioritize sustainable development over mundane gestures. Rather than distributing vehicles, should the focus not be on improving infrastructure, healthcare, and workers’ welfare in local communities?
The people of Ondo State deserve clarity on these matters. We urge Governor Aiyedatiwa to provide full transparency on this expenditure and reaffirm his commitment to respecting the financial independence of local governments as directed by the Federal Government and not some lip service to it!
