•Lists Commissioner’s ‘many sins’
Fresh trouble brews for the Ondo State Conmissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowumi Isaac as Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Ondo State chapter on Sunday called on the leaders and elders of Ilaje Community to wade into the crisis of confidence amongst the cabinet members of the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa with a view of ‘rescuing’ the Governor from the alleged larger than life attitude of the commissioner.
The CCM according to their coordinator, Comrade Adewale Kareem said Mr. Governor’s appears helpless to rein in, on Omowumi Isaac over allegations bordering on the handling of financial affairs of the State which has stagnated some MDAs and many ongoing road projects in the State.
The move to ask Leaders from Ilaje to wade in, according to the group becomes inevitable because the Governor hails from the area and the community must therefore rally support for the Governor “to rescue him” from the alleged high handedness of Madam Commissioner.
Part of the many ‘sins’ of Madam Commissioner according to the group is her refusal to appear before the State House of Assembly over matters bordering on the finance of the State, including the recent Supplementary Budget.
The group insisted that the House must ensure she appear before them this new week. And they must perform their oversight function by asking probing questions about the issues of noncompliance with Governor’s directives to her that monies due to the MDAs; contractors that have completed their works and those who have left sites, be given to them without further delay.
Not only that, the group alleged finance commissioner of having an axe to grind with the duo of Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Akogun Akinwumi Sowore, and that of the Energy and Mineral Resources, Razaq Obe who she alleged “of always antagonizing her on salient issues bordering on the finance of the State”
To show her resentment for the duo, the finance ministry had stopped processing funds due to both ministries.
“How can a single person be giving colleague-cabinet members problem all the time? Why must a disagreement degenerates to the level of seeing her colleagues as sworn enemies who must not be reappointed if and when the Governor wins the forthcoming November 16 election?
“While the duo of the aforementioned officials are lamenting over lack of release of funds to their ministries, another aide of the Governor in charge of environment who was nominated by the Finance Commissioner is getting regular approval and release of funds for his projects unlike in the works, housing and energy, amongst others.
“And we know she won’t get away with all the allegations bordering on underhand financial dealings with some compromised bank officials. The banks that were engaged by the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu administration have been dispensed with and replaced with new banks for the major reason of getting monthly interests from the government monies kept in their kitty.
“It is time that both the EFCC and the ICPC should beam their searchlights into the activities of Madam Omowumi Isaac at the Ministry of Finance since March this year. And all the new banks transacting businesses with the ministry should be probed to unravel alleged shady deals with a view of sanitizing the State for proper development and economic prosperity.
While issues bordering on non-release of funds approved by the Governor to contractors who have completed their projects and others who have ongoing projects dominated discuss across finance ministry and the Works, another issue that Madam Commissioner is being accused of is that of stadium renovation which has been affecting Sunshine Football Club to remain at Dipo Dina Ijebu Ode stadium as their temporary home ground for the 2024-25 season because Sunshine Stars original home ground the Akure Township Stadium failed to meet up with the standard required by the Nigeria Football Federation.
The Governor had since ordered release of money to carry out the upgrade of the stadium facilities but the Commissioner allegedly wasted precious time of the contractor, allowing the inflation to set in, before she eventually made available the mobilization fund recently at a time the management and players of the club are passing through harrowing experiences, playing outside the State and incurring avoidable expenses alongside the fans of the club.
The group is also asking why the VIP section at the Government house with about 40 rooms is being occupied presently by the Commissioner, leaving the State to constantly lodge visiting VIPs in hotels thus draining the finance of the government which should have been channeled to other profitable ventures.
While describing the Finance Commissioner as a ‘benefactor’ of the Governor for her roles during the travails of Aiyedatiwa as Deputy Governor, the group recalled how she ‘foiled’ the impeachment of Aiyedatiwa as she shuttled between London and Nigeria several times, to ensure Aiyedatiwa kept his job, using her connections in the Presidency to support the Governor.
The group however regretted that a woman who did so much to support the Governor should not by any conduct, allow Aiyedatiwa to fail and incur more enemies as November 16 election gathers momentum.
“Alternatively, the Governor should not only relieve her of that powerful position but should equally find means of compensating her and allow the cause of governance to run seamlessly because a woman who is ‘fighting’ everybody including Governor’s appointees; civil servants; tax collectors in IGR; and even the contractors, does not mean well for the State and should therefore be asked to take a back seat forthwith,” the group counseled.
This development highlights growing tensions within the Ondo State Government and raises concerns about governance, transparency and accountability.