Former Ondo State governor and elder statesman, Chief Bode George, has alleged that Nigerian music star Davido, his billionaire father Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke have been personally funding the salaries of Osun State workers for several months.
George made the claim during a live interview on Nigeria Info FM Lagos 99.3, where he addressed the lingering issue of withheld local government allocations by the Federal Government.
According to him, Osun State has not received its statutory local government funds from the Federation Account in over six months, leaving the state with a financial backlog of more than ₦5 billion.
In the absence of these allocations, George alleged that Governor Adeleke, with the support of his wealthy elder brother Dr. Adeleke and award-winning musician Davido, has been covering salary payments from their private resources to prevent a crisis in the state’s workforce.
George further disclosed that Governor Adeleke, frustrated by the financial and political pressures, has privately expressed his dissatisfaction with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the Osun governor even hinted at the possibility of reconsidering his political future if the party fails to protect his administration’s interests in the ongoing standoff.
WATCH HIM SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW
The development, if confirmed, highlights the growing strain in Nigeria’s federal system, where states remain heavily dependent on allocations from Abuja to run their affairs.
It also underscores the unusual reliance on private wealth to sustain government obligations — a situation analysts say raises questions about fiscal accountability, sustainability, and the independence of state administrations.
The allegation has since sparked public debate. While supporters praise the Adeleke family for stepping in to prevent salary arrears in Osun State, critics argue that it exposes deeper structural problems within Nigeria’s governance framework. Many have also called on the Federal Government to clarify why Osun’s allocations have allegedly been withheld and to address the implications for workers who rely on timely salaries.
