Seven Months Without Pay: Osun Monarch Laments Hardship Under Adeleke

-Exonerates Tinubu Over Withheld LG Allocations

The Oloyan of Oyan in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Kilani Adekeye, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of subjecting traditional rulers in the state to hardship over alleged non-payment of their statutory salaries for seven months.

The monarch, who made the allegation in a video that has surfaced online, appealed to members of the public to prevail on the governor to address the situation, saying the prolonged delay had left many traditional rulers struggling to meet their financial obligations.

Oba Adekeye said no fewer than 17 traditional rulers and over 400 chiefs in Odo-Otin Local Government Area had been affected by the alleged non-payment.

He said, “We, the Obas and Chiefs, are hungry. In Odo-Otin, we have 17 Obas with over 400 chiefs. All of us have wives and children, and for the past seven months, we have not received any money.

“Help us to tell Governor Adeleke that he is the one subjecting us to suffering.”

The traditional ruler recalled that the state government had previously owed monarchs eight months’ salaries before their complaints and agitation eventually led to the payment of the outstanding entitlements.

According to him, the continued delay in the payment of their salaries has made it increasingly difficult for traditional rulers to cater for their families and attend to personal responsibilities.

“He once owed us eight months’ salaries. We had to speak out before we eventually got paid.

“It is not good for a monarch to be begging before he eats. I spent five weeks at LUTH in Lagos, and it became a problem for me to pay my medical bills.

“This is the seventh month that monarchs in Osun State have not been paid,” he added.

However, when asked to appeal to President Bola Tinubu over the reported withholding of more than N200 billion in local government allocations to Osun State, the monarch exonerated the President from the controversy.

Oba Adekeye maintained that Tinubu had fulfilled his responsibility regarding local government allocations, insisting that the President should not be held responsible for the challenges confronting traditional rulers in the state.

“The President has done what is expected of him concerning the local government allocations. Tinubu loves the kings, and he has nothing to do with what is happening on the ground,” he said.

The monarch’s complaint comes against the backdrop of the prolonged political and legal dispute over the control of local government councils in Osun State and the administration of their statutory allocations.

The disagreement has continued to generate controversy between the state government and other political stakeholders, particularly over the financial operations of the local councils.