“Bridges Alone Are Not Government” – Osun ALGON Chair Faults Adeleke’s Style Of governance, Canvasses Votes For AMBO

The Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abiodun Idowu, has said that governance goes beyond bridge constructions, insisting that local government administrations remain the real force at the grassroots despite the ongoing political crisis surrounding council control in the state.

Idowu, who spoke during an interview on City MirrorTV’s Issues That Matter programme, declared that local government officials were lawfully in charge of council allocations following a February 2025 court judgment, while also boasting that residents would eventually decide “who they truly love” based on performances at the grassroots.

“Adeleke is doing his own, but bridges only is not what they call government, there are other projects that needs to be done,” Idowu said, in reference to the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“We are the one that own the town. When we are done, during the election we’ll know who the residents love,” he added.

The ALGON chairman maintained that local government allocations currently being controlled by council officials were backed by the law and the court, stressing that the opposing parties failed to challenge the judgment at the Appeal Court.

“You know we operate with law. Since we received judgement since February 2025, the money has been with us. It’s because of the case that we have not been spending the money,” he said.

“We are supported by the law and by the court, and the state government did not go to Appeal Court, so we are the rightful owner of it,” he added.

According to him, local government administrations had already commenced developmental projects across communities, particularly road rehabilitation projects aimed at helping farmers transport goods to markets more easily.

“If you notice, we have been working in the town, we started road rehabilitation for farmers to pack their produces to the market,” he stated.

Idowu insisted that the activities of the councils do not interfere with the state government, saying both administrations operate on separate responsibilities.

“The work is different. His own work he’s doing it and what we are doing is different. The money doesn’t affect him. He’s doing his own in the state, while we are doing our own at the local government level and he’s our governor,” he said.

The ALGON chairman also accused political opponents of disrupting local government operations by refusing to vacate council positions during the dispute over local government leadership in the state past before the final judgment.

“They are the ones that disturbed our operation because they didn’t leave the position for us. They really distracted us,” he alleged.

Speaking on insecurity, Idowu said the recent distribution of motorcycles to security agencies across the state, saying the initiative was designed to improve security access in remote areas.

“Security is very important, that’s why we distributed bikes because where the motor cannot reach, the bike will reach there,” he explained.

Comparing the administration of Adeleke with that of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the ALGON chairman argued that both governments operated under different realities.

He further credited Oyetola with executing major road projects in different parts of the state, including roads that leads to Iragbiji and also Ejigbo communities.

“Oyetola did different roads, the ones that leads to Iragbiji, the ones that leads to Ejigbo and others. He did it according to the era and what happened at the time and the state didn’t take loean,” he added.

Idowu also endorsed Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.

“AMBO has been doing well. He has written and listed what he will do and that’s what others do not do. He listed everything including employment, so he’s doing it already,” he said.

According to him, Oyebamiji’s track record in public office distinguishes him from other candidates seeking to govern the state.

“With AMBO’s track record, he has done a lot. He made us know National Inlands Water Authority (NIWA), he made sure everything that will favour Osun was approved,” he stated.

On the lingering controversy surrounding the tenure of local government officials, Idowu disclosed that the councils approached the court to seek clarification on the duration of their tenure.

“We went to court to know when our tenure will end, and even if the court speaks, we still have the privilege to appeal. We are doing our own executives,” he said.

The ALGON chairman also commented on the transfer of Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mutiu Agboke, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission acted within its constitutional responsibilities.

“INEC is doing their job as routine as their duties. INEC knows who is fit to be in one place, so they know Mutiu Agboke needs to be transferred,” he said.

He, however, urged residents of the state to support Oyebamiji’s governorship ambition in 2026.

“People should come out and vote for AMBO, he’s the one that is capable,” he said.