By Obinna Uballa
Residents of Osun State on Monday stormed branches of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in Osogbo and Ilesa, demanding the closure of their accounts over what they described as the unjust withholding of local government funds allegedly domiciled with the bank.
The protesters, made up of traders and other residents, accused the bank of complicity in the protracted impasse surrounding the release of the funds. They alleged that the monies were being handled in a politically influenced manner, worsening economic hardship across the state.
At the Osogbo branch, one of the protesters, a trader, lamented the ripple effects of the delayed funds on local businesses.
“We are traders in Osun State and we can barely feed three times a day. If civil servants have their money stuck in the bank, how would they pay and patronise us who sell goods? Everyone is feeling the impact,” the resident said.
Another protester said residents had reached a breaking point. “We have been pushed to the wall and we can no longer take it. What is being done is unfair. Imagine what we have to go through daily due to the continued impasse,” the protester added.
The demonstrators declared their intention to close their accounts with UBA in protest against what they described as the bank’s role in the non-release of N230 billion in state funds. They maintained that although they are not politicians, they are directly affected by the ongoing dispute.
“With what’s happening currently, we have decided to come here and close our accounts with UBA given their role in the non-release of N230 billion state funds. We are not politicians. They should release the money held and resolve this issue,” one protester said.
The residents also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure a swift resolution.
“We appeal to our father President Bola Tinubu to wade into the situation and put an end to what Osun State is facing. He should help us in the state,” another protester said.
The New Diplomat had reported that there is a lingering dispute over the management of Osun State local government funds said to be domiciled with UBA. There were also indications that Governor Ademola Adeleke was scheduled to meet with Tinubu to seek a political resolution to the crisis.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that attention has shifted to the anticipated meeting between Adeleke and Tinubu, amid growing concern over the fate of the disputed funds and their impact on governance at the grassroots level.
The situation intensified following unconfirmed reports that UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu was recently questioned by Tinubu over the status and disbursement of the Osun local government funds. According to insider accounts, Elumelu met with the President at the Presidential Villa, although the official agenda of the meeting was not made public.
