By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A heated debate on transparency and accountability in local governance has erupted on the KosofePost online forum, following an exchange between Comrade Olayiwola Sulyman, popularly known as Opomulero, and former Supervisory Councillor for Environment in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Hon. Kehinde Fatoki.
The conversation, which stemmed from a broader discussion on citizens’ right to demand details of project costs and public fund usage, quickly evolved into a clash of perspectives on the limits of civic oversight.
Hon. Fatoki argued that financial information relating to local government projects should be obtained only through authorized channels such as the courts, financial regulatory agencies, or the State Audit Department.
“I emphasize going through the right and authorized channels — court of law, petition, or financial regulatory agencies. The State Audit Department has all the details. Individuals can as well go there and request for it if their request is genuine,” Fatoki said.
He referenced the recent arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore to emphasize that rights must be exercised within legal and procedural boundaries.
However, his remarks provoked sharp criticism from other participants, particularly Comrade Opomulero, who accused Fatoki of defending secrecy and undermining public accountability.
“Egbon, you are committing fallacy and shooting yourself in the leg. You can and will never be accountable to the people. Your school of thought is like those who commit illegality and then tell the aggrieved to go to court,” Opomulero retorted.
He added that genuine transparency requires openness rather than bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“How do you build public trust if you refer citizens to agencies on the money you spent yourself? If nothing is shrouded in secrecy, what is the big deal in telling citizens how much you spent to execute a project?”
Despite the criticism, Fatoki stood his ground, insisting that public officials must adhere to due process in matters of financial disclosure.
The debate highlights the growing use of digital civic spaces like KosofePost for grassroots accountability conversations, as citizens increasingly demand transparency from local government chairmen and public officials across Nigeria.