Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, the Okanlomo Oodua and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland, has urged political leaders in Oyo State to approach the debate over local government autonomy with constitutional responsibility, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
Sanusi made the call in a statement issued on Saturday amid the disagreement between the governorship candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, over local government autonomy.
Adekanmbi had challenged Alli to demonstrate his contributions in the Senate towards securing financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils.
Reacting to the development, Sanusi said the debate should be guided by constitutional principles, political maturity and genuine concern for the welfare of the people rather than partisan interests.
He described local government autonomy as a constitutional and developmental issue that transcended political parties, noting that it directly affected the ability of grassroots institutions to deliver essential services.
According to him, the controversy presents an opportunity for political leaders to address the longstanding question of why the tier of government closest to the people continues to face financial and administrative constraints despite its constitutional recognition.
Supreme Court Has Spoken
Sanusi recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, on July 11, 2024, delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of local government councils.
He noted that the court ruled against state governments’ retention and expenditure of local government allocations and directed that funds be paid directly to democratically elected councils.
He added that the judgment reinforced the constitutional requirement for democratically elected local government administrations.
While acknowledging that further legislative reforms could strengthen the local government system, Sanusi maintained that existing constitutional obligations and binding judicial decisions must be respected.
“A Supreme Court judgment is not a campaign promise. It is a binding pronouncement of the highest court of our land,” he said.
He urged political officeholders to focus on implementing the judgment rather than turning the issue into a tool for political rivalry.
Autonomy Should Improve Lives at the Grassroots
The traditional titleholder and grassroots development advocate stressed that the ultimate purpose of local government autonomy should be to improve the living conditions of ordinary citizens.
He highlighted the difficulties faced by rural women who travel long distances to access healthcare, farmers whose produce is stranded by deteriorating rural roads and schoolchildren who learn in facilities requiring basic improvements.
He also drew attention to elderly pensioners waiting for their legitimate entitlements, arguing that poor management of public resources and ineffective grassroots administration often impose the greatest hardship on vulnerable citizens.
“These are the people for whom grassroots government exists,” Sanusi said.
He maintained that local government autonomy should not merely empower another class of political officeholders but should guarantee accountable administration, efficient service delivery and development at the community level.
According to him, councils must be equipped to address the immediate needs of their communities while remaining accountable to the people they serve.
Sanusi Appeals to Adekanmbi, Alli, Makinde
Sanusi appealed to Adekanmbi, Alli, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State House of Assembly and relevant federal authorities to approach the issue with seriousness and a commitment to constitutional governance.
He acknowledged that disagreements among political actors were legitimate in a democracy but insisted that such exchanges should promote stronger institutions, better policies and greater public accountability.
He also urged civil society organisations, professional associations, traditional institutions and the media to demand evidence-based discussions on local government administration.
“Let every political actor present verifiable facts.
“Let the law guide our conclusions.
“Let the welfare of the people remain our highest consideration,” he said.
Sanusi further called on governors to respect constitutional limits, legislators to discharge their responsibilities diligently and federal institutions to ensure compliance with binding judicial decisions.
History Will Judge Leaders on Grassroots Development
The Okanlomo Oodua said the people of Oyo State deserved a political culture in which constitutional obligations were respected irrespective of the political party in power.
He urged political leaders to ensure that local government councils became centres of development rather than instruments of political competition.
Sanusi added that history would judge political leaders not merely by their arguments over local government autonomy but by their contributions to strengthening democratic institutions, protecting public resources and improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Local government autonomy must never become a weapon for political convenience. It must become a living reality for the people of Nigeria,” he said.
He expressed hope that the debate would lead to practical measures that would strengthen grassroots governance and ensure that local government resources were used for the benefit of residents.
Sanusi concluded with a prayer for divine wisdom, humility and courage for Nigeria’s leaders to uphold justice, accountability and genuine grassroots development, while seeking God’s blessings for Ibadanland, Oyo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
