…Open Letter to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR by Hon Comrade James Onifade
Your Excellency,
The people of Osun State are no longer crying out , they are demanding justice, and their patience has evaporated.
We, the concerned citizens of Osun, write to you today not as supplicants, but as resolute Nigerians who have exhausted every avenue of dialogue. This is not another plea; it is a final warning backed by facts, timelines, and the unyielding will of the people.
One week ago, in my previous open letter, we exposed the unlawful withholding of over ₦131 billion in statutory allocations due to our 30 local government councils since February 2025. This act defies the Constitution, Supreme Court rulings, and the democratic will expressed in the February 22, 2025 local government elections. We issued a clear 14-day ultimatum for decisive intervention and the unconditional release of every kobo.
That ultimatum is halfway expired. Few days ago, It came to our knowledge with papers that backed the illegal transaction that the sum of 50billion was allegedly withdrawn and this was done under the directive of your brother Mr Gboyega Oyetola who happen to be the immediate past governor of osun state and Tinubu’s Brother and this thing was not just done, it was done through the back door, the UBA account was not the accredited account which the local government have been using, they used it to embezzle the money and even by the time the money came out it was given to selected people not the general people who are suppose to be entitled to the money because even the common masses did not benefit from what they withdrawn so they are always with their own pocket the self centredness in their watchword .
Let us be crystal clear on the facts, Mr. President:
• Misuse of Funds: The withheld allocations have never positively impacted Osun’s people. Instead, they’ve fueled opacity and waste. A breakdown of expenditures reveals shocking priorities: approximately ₦13 billion squandered on legal fees to an advisory council, while essential services crumble. How does this align with your promises of transparency and people-centered governance?
• Selective Targeting: Your administration announced local government autonomy nationwide last year, yet no other state has implemented it. Joint accounts persist everywhere else, allowing governors unchecked control.
Why Osun alone? This smacks of political weaponization, using federal power to punish a state for its democratic choices.
• Unprecedented Illegality: In the history of democracy, no individual has ever claimed the right to intercept funds meant for local economic development, the welfare of traditional rulers (Obas), infrastructure projects, and community upliftment. These allocations were frozen via a court order in UBA accounts – only to be surreptitiously withdrawn later. This is not governance; it is administrative sabotage.
The consequences are dire and immediate:
• Primary school teachers unpaid for months, borrowing to survive.
• Health centers depleted – no medications, no power, patients abandoned.
• Local workers, traditional rulers, and pensioners facing destitution amid soaring inflation.
• • Grassroots democracy – which you vowed to safeguard – eroded to the point of collapse.
Mr. President, this crisis tests your commitment to:
• The rule of law, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.
• True local government autonomy, free from federal or state interference.
• Rejecting the weaponization of public funds for political gain.
• Shielding vulnerable Nigerians from elite maneuvering.
We demand immediate action – not tomorrow, but today:
1. Order the unconditional release of the full ₦131 billion (accounting for all deductions and accruals) directly into the accounts of the democratically elected local government councils.
2. Direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and all federal agencies to enforce compliance without excuses or delays.
3. Demonstrate through verifiable steps that your pledges of justice and accountability are not hollow rhetoric.
This is not a joke, Your Excellency. History and the international community are watching. Swift compliance will restore faith; inaction will unleash protests that amplify Osun’s plight globally images of starving families, shuttered clinics, and betrayed citizens broadcast worldwide.
We believed in your leadership once. Now, prove it with deeds, or face the consequences.
In unwavering resolve for justice.
E-signed: Hon Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and A Better Judicial System
