The Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area in Ogun State, Wale Adedayo, has gone into hiding after armed men and thugs invaded the council secretariat in Ogbere on Thursday morning.
In a letter addressed to former Governor Segun Osoba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adedayo accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting local government funds, a claim that Abiodun has refuted. Despite other local government chairmen seeking forgiveness by prostrating to the governor, the situation escalated on Thursday when armed men and political thugs reportedly seized control of the Ijebu East LG secretariat.
The motive behind this move, as learned by 9JA NEWS, was an attempt to remove the chairman from office due to his comments against the governor.
Adedayo confirmed the incident and stated that he and his family are currently in hiding. He revealed that some thugs are actively searching for him but insisted that he is not afraid of anyone. As of the time of reporting, the armed men are still occupying the Ogbere secretariat.
Adedayo explained that their mission is to pressure the councillors into removing him from office, but he remains unconcerned about this development. His primary focus is on highlighting the issue at hand and challenging the way local government allocations are being handled.
Adedayo expressed his disappointment in the lack of financial autonomy for local governments in Ogun State, despite it being among the states that signed off on it. He questioned why he is being targeted and emphasized that he is not fighting with the governor, but simply calling for accountability.
The chairman also addressed his colleagues who have apologized to the governor, stating that it is their choice to either serve the people who elected them or serve the governor. He urged their constituents to question how much money they have received and how it has been utilized.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the Ogun Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, were unsuccessful as calls to her phone went unanswered.