Oluomo Kolapo Alimi
By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Government has dismissed a petition by a group identified as Osun Youths Initiative for Good Governance (OYIGG), describing its allegations of financial misappropriation and project irregularities against the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as baseless, malicious and defamatory.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment,Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said the government received with “utter dismay” what he described as a “laughable, hollow and intellectually bankrupt” petition allegedly authored by the group and signed by one Adeyemi Akande.
Alimi noted that although the government would ordinarily ignore such claims, it was compelled to respond to prevent what he called the deliberate spread of falsehood and misinformation.
He said allegations of “multi-billion naira infrastructure fraud,” “mismanagement of public funds,” and diversion of government revenues without legislative approval were “spurious, unfounded and entirely lacking in substance.”
According to him, the claims do not reflect the fiscal realities and governance processes of the state.
The commissioner specifically refuted allegations against the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Kazeem Akinleye, and the Accountant-General of the State, Rasheed Olalere Alabi, describing them as false and misleading.
He explained that the Chief of Staff does not control state funds or authorise disbursements, while the Accountant-General operates strictly within established financial regulations and constitutional provisions.
“Every inflow from the Federation Account and other lawful sources is duly processed, documented and appropriated in line with extant laws,” Alimi said.
He described the claim that funds were diverted without legislative approval as a deliberate distortion of public finance procedures aimed at misleading the public.
Alimi maintained that the Adeleke administration remains committed to transparency, accountability and due process, adding that its performance is backed by independent assessments.
He cited the state’s ranking in fiscal transparency evaluations, noting that Osun scored highly in accountability and public financial management indicators.
The commissioner also condemned the inclusion of private individuals, including businessman Deji Adeleke and Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, in the petition, stressing that they hold no government positions and play no role in the management of state finances.
He described the allegations against them as reckless, defamatory and legally actionable.
Alimi further characterised the petition as a politically motivated attempt to discredit the government and mislead the public.
He urged residents, the media and relevant institutions to disregard the claims, describing them as “a tissue of lies” and a “malicious propaganda document.”
The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparent governance, responsible fiscal management and people-oriented development, insisting that no amount of “falsehood or political blackmail” would derail its agenda.
