Traditional rulers in Osun State have passionately appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the prolonged withholding of local government (LG) allocations, which has crippled governance and disrupted development at the grassroots level.

The appeal came after a crucial meeting held at the Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, where the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who also serves as the permanent chairman of the Osun Council of Obas, hosted other monarchs to deliberate on the crisis.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the monarchs stressed that the continuous non-release of statutory LG funds has negatively affected communities across the state. According to them, the suspension of allocations has rendered secretariats inactive, leaving rural dwellers to endure untold hardship.

Monarchs Express Concern Over Grassroots Hardship

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Ooni of Ife emphasized that the 30 Local Government Areas and the Area Office in Osun State have been seriously destabilized by the withheld funds. He reminded the government that the issue had earlier been tabled at the State Council of Obas meeting held on July 3, 2025, where concerns were raised about the deteriorating state of grassroots administration.

The monarchs stressed the importance of functional local government structures, describing themselves as natural leaders who remain the closest authority to the people. They reiterated that the effectiveness of traditional rulers largely depends on the operational strength of local government administrations.

“As fathers of the land, we are completely apolitical. We have no interest in the politics or individual disputes that may have led to the seizure of local government allocations. Our only priority is the well-being of our people and the proper functioning of grassroots governance,” the communiqué stated.

Traditional Institutions at Risk

The Osun Council of Obas further explained that traditional institutions across the state rely heavily on the five percent deductions from local government allocations for sustenance. Without this, it becomes almost impossible for rulers to serve their communities effectively.

The communiqué lamented the visible decline in the maintenance of local markets, community roads, and other essential services that LG administrations usually provide. Ordinary citizens, especially farmers and traders in rural areas, are now bearing the brunt of the financial crisis.

“It is deeply concerning to see LG secretariats remain inactive for months, simply because the funds meant for their smooth running have been withheld. This paralysis is affecting even the most basic community services,” the statement added.

Appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The monarchs urged President Tinubu to act swiftly, either through political negotiation or judicial resolution, to ensure that withheld allocations are released without further delay. They described him as the “father of the nation” and expressed confidence that his intervention would restore stability at the grassroots.

“We appeal to Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to come to the aid of Osun communities. Many of our people, particularly those in farmlands and remote villages, are suffering immensely from the total inactivity of local governments. We believe that your intervention will not only ease their pain but also revive rural development,” the council stated.

The monarchs added that resolving the crisis would reenergize traditional rulers across the state, enabling them to support the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in achieving rapid development and better service delivery.

Confidence in Tinubu’s Commitment

They also acknowledged President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to give traditional rulers more constitutional roles, describing it as proof of his commitment to strengthening rural engagement and promoting community development across Nigeria.

The Osun Council of Obas concluded by reaffirming their loyalty to the federal government, stressing that empowering local governments remains the only sustainable way to bring governance closer to the people.