Comrade Bamidele Atoyebi, Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group, has called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds in Oyo State, arguing that the substantial allocations received by both the state government and local governments should reflect more visibly in security, infrastructure and grassroots development.

Atoyebi made the call while commenting on recent security challenges in the state, particularly the abduction of school children in Oriire Local Government Area. He argued that insecurity in many parts of Nigeria often has local dimensions and therefore requires strong collaboration between state authorities, local governments and community-based security structures.

According to him, local governments in Oyo State have received huge monthly allocations from the Federation Account in recent months. Figures cited by Atoyebi show that several councils received hundreds of millions of naira monthly between December and March.

Among the councils listed were Ogbomoso South, which reportedly received ₦473.87 million in December, ₦545.35 million in January, ₦682.97 million in February and ₦511.25 million in March. Ogbomoso North reportedly received ₦534.16 million, ₦605.37 million, ₦732.57 million and ₦563.02 million respectively during the same period.

Other councils highlighted include Ogo Oluwa, Olorunsogo, Oluyole, Ona Ara, Oorelope, Oriire, Oyo East, Oyo West, Saki East, Saki West and Surulere, each receiving allocations running into hundreds of millions of naira monthly.

Atoyebi further referenced broader allocation figures which he said demonstrate the scale of public resources flowing into Oyo State and its local government system. The figures cited include:

• March 2026 – ₦19.28 billion

• February 2026 – ₦28.53 billion

• January 2026 – ₦21.17 billion

• December 2025 – ₦17.04 billion

• November 2025 – ₦20.34 billion

• October 2025 – ₦22.73 billion

• September 2025 – ₦20.15 billion

• August 2025 – ₦19.67 billion

• July 2025 – ₦18.55 billion

• June 2025 – ₦18.15 billion

• May 2025 – ₦15.37 billion

• April 2025 – ₦15.16 billion

• March 2025 – ₦15.96 billion

Atoyebi questioned whether residents were receiving commensurate value for the resources available to government. He pointed to roads in parts of Ibadan which he said require rehabilitation and maintenance, arguing that visible infrastructure improvements should be evident across the state to match the volume of public funds being received.

He also called for detailed public disclosure of how allocations to local governments are being utilised, particularly in relation to road construction, education, healthcare, security and community development projects.

The political advocate further urged government officials to strengthen support for local security initiatives, including the Amotekun Corps, stressing that grassroots security institutions play a critical role in intelligence gathering and crime prevention.

Atoyebi additionally raised concerns about land administration, contract awards and traditional institution matters in the state. He urged relevant authorities to provide clarifications where necessary and ensure transparency in all government dealings.

On the recent kidnapping incident involving school children, Atoyebi expressed concern over the length of time the victims remained in captivity and called for intensified efforts by security agencies to secure their safe release. He maintained that cases involving school children require urgent and coordinated responses from all levels of government.

According to him, the Federal Government has already deployed military personnel to the area where the incident occurred and should continue to strengthen collaboration with local vigilantes, hunters and other community-based security groups who possess a deeper understanding of the terrain. He noted reports indicating that local hunters attempting to access suspected hideouts encountered landmines and other dangers, resulting in casualties and limiting their ability to advance further into certain areas.

Atoyebi argued that security agencies should expand intelligence-gathering operations to surrounding communities and villages, noting that criminal groups often depend on nearby settlements for food supplies, fuel, logistics and other forms of support. He stressed that extending security operations beyond the immediate scene of the incident could help disrupt any support networks available to kidnappers.

He further called on residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and individuals whose lifestyles appear inconsistent with their known means of livelihood.

According to him, communities play a critical role in preventing criminal infiltration, as criminal elements often rely on local knowledge, concealment and support systems to sustain their operations.

The political advocate emphasised that security should be viewed as a collective responsibility involving government, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents. He urged villagers and local stakeholders to promptly share useful information with security agencies whenever suspicious movements or unusual activities are observed, arguing that early intelligence can prevent criminal activities from escalating into major security threats.

While making several criticisms of the state government, Atoyebi acknowledged that security operations often involve multiple agencies and layers of government. He nevertheless insisted that state and local authorities must play active roles in prevention, intelligence gathering and community engagement.

He further called for a comprehensive audit of federal allocations, state revenues and local government finances in Oyo State, arguing that citizens have a right to know how public funds are spent and what outcomes are being achieved with those resources.

According to Atoyebi, not transparency remains one of the most effective ways to build public trust and ensure that government resources translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.