A forum of 20 former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirants in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the finances of the council under its Chairman, Mr. Julius Takeme, over alleged misappropriation and financial recklessness involving more than ₦23.7 billion.

The former aspirants, in a statement signed on their behalf by Hon. Jude Angodideke, Hon. Paul Oruma, Hon. Duncan Tamaradoubra Forcados, Chief Godspower Tomone, Hon. Chief Lucky Feizy Oweimieotu, Hon. Stephen Eniekezimene and Hon. Comrade Ozobo Austin, demanded greater accountability and transparency in the management of funds accruing to the local government.

They alleged that despite substantial allocations received by the council since Takeme assumed office on July 15, 2024, Burutu communities have little development to show for the funds.

The group claimed that the Council received or budgeted more than ₦23.7 billion across the period under review, citing about ₦8.7 billion in statutory allocation for 2025 and a ₦15 billion budget for 2026, alongside revenues allegedly received between July and December 2024.

According to the former aspirants, the figures cited do not include other revenues they said accrued to the Council through subsidy-related funds, excess crude revenue and internally generated revenue, including revenue associated with the Forcados area.

▪️‘₦23.7BN WITH NOTHING TO SHOW’

The Forum questioned what it described as the absence of commensurate development across the riverine local government, alleging that schools, health facilities, roads, water infrastructure and youth empowerment programmes remained inadequate.

"We are calling on all Burutu sons and daughters, leaders, critical stakeholders, traditional rulers, youth groups and civil society to force the Council chairman, Julius Takeme, to give a public account of how the 2024 allocation, ₦8.7 billion in 2025 and almost over half of the ₦15 billion budget of 2026 were spent," the group said.

The aspirants further alleged that the new council secretariat and legislative complex remained at the damp-proof course (DPC) stage after about two years, arguing that the level of work visible at the sites could not justify expenditure running into billions of naira.

"Where is the money? Our schools are still bad, no teachers and seats. The communal roads are impassable, no water projects and youth empowerment. Flooding is ravaging our communities. Health centres have no drugs and staff. But allocations are coming in every month. This is unacceptable," the statement read.

They maintained that the council receives sufficient revenue to undertake meaningful development projects, particularly considering the peculiar challenges facing riverine communities in Burutu, and also alleged that councillors and other stakeholders were not being adequately informed about the financial affairs of the Council.

"The chairman operates a system where councillors are denied information on Council finances. The situation is regrettable," they alleged.

They further demanded disclosure of revenues allegedly received by the Council between July and December 2024, including statutory allocations, subsidy-related funds, internally generated revenue and excess crude proceeds.

According to them, a comprehensive account of how the funds were spent would enable residents and stakeholders to assess the performance of the administration.

The former aspirants accused Takeme of running what they described as a "one-man show" and failing to sufficiently engage political and community stakeholders in the governance of Burutu.

"We cannot continue like this. Burutu is a riverine LGA with peculiar challenges of flooding, lack of access roads and youth unemployment. Yet the man in charge has abandoned governance," they alleged.

▪️FORUM SEEKS OBOREVWORI'S INTERVENTION

The group appealed to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to intervene by facilitating dialogue with stakeholders and ensuring transparency in the management of council resources.

They warned that failure by the Council leadership to publicly account for its finances could trigger political mobilisation and peaceful mass action by aggrieved stakeholders.

"We are planning a major political move that will shock the chairman and the APC party. But before then, we are calling on Governor Oborevwori to urgently intervene," the statement said.

"You cannot ask people to sacrifice and then abandon them. If the governor means well for the party, he should create room to engage us and also compel Takeme to open the books of Burutu Council."

The Forum consequently urged the Delta State House of Assembly, EFCC and ICPC to investigate revenues accruing to Burutu Local Government Council and expenditures made from July 15, 2024 through the 2025 and 2026 fiscal periods.

They said an independent investigation would establish the actual amount received by the Council, determine how the funds were utilised and either substantiate or dispel the allegations being raised.

As of the time of this report, the allegations contained in the Forum's statement had not been independently verified, and no response from Takeme to the specific claims was provided in the statement.