On the evening of Thursday 6th of October, 2022, a social media post almost set the political space of Kosofe ablaze. Post claimed the executive Chairman, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe runs the council like a private business. When Kosofe Inside-Out contacted to find out his side of the coin, Hon. Ogunlewe noted that facts are sacred and instead of reaching out to him, we should make clarifications at the council, meet with political appointees to speak for themselves on the subject matter.
Friday, 7th of October, Kosofe Inside-Out stormed the council on a fact finding visit and met with the highest ranking political appointee, Hon. Fatai Gbadebo, who occupies the position of Secretary to the Local Government.
When asked for Gbadebo’s clarification about the news making round that Kosofe LG pays less salaries compared to other councils across Lagos state.
He noted that all that was mentioned there were blatant lies, pure falsehood and fabrications. When asked to react to the impress that they claim were not paid, the FMC and the inflated costs on contracts, Gbadebo disclosed that they had never for once missed their mandated monthly statutory meetings, where all matters concerning governance were discussed, “no contract was issued by the chairman without proper processing. We discuss whatever contract we want to embark on in the executive meeting, then the procurement, in conformity with budgetary provisions. That’s how the chairman has been running the council. It has never been a one man show. We have the records of the exco meetings, you can go and confirm. On the issue of salary, I don’t think the writer is knowledgeable about governance, because if he is, he would know it is not in the powers of the council chairman to decide on his own the amount of money he would be paying to political office holders. We have the fiscal and allocation committee in the country that stipulates the amount of money each public office holder will earn at the end of every month. The chairman can’t even decide how much he earns, it is the fiscal and allocation committee that does that and we have a letter from the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs stipulating the amount of money each public office holder will earn at the end of the month. And that’s what the chairman has been doing ever since we were sworn into office, he can’t do anything outside that.” He said.
Hon. Gbadebo further exonerated his boss from the denigrating document, claimed that the chairman, lawmakers and the entire cabinet of Kosofe local government are united. In his words, he said, “You can go around the nooks and crannies of the local government, you will find out that we are one, the chairman has constructed lots of several roads. There’s no ward you will get to and not see the activities of the present administration. He has been spending the commonwealth judiciously. He does everything with the right procedures. It is not a one man’s show.” He concluded.
