Oyo ALGON: Makinde goes violent , orders attacks on elected council officials , as CP displays nonchalant attitudes
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State chapter on Friday condemns the return of brigandage and violence to the state, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere, a solid foundation laid by the progressive administration of former Governor of Oyo-State, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi.
ALGON, in a press statement signed by its chairman, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye in Ibadan expressed this dismay while reacting to the invasion of local council headquarters across the state by thugs believed to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Council helmsman of Oluyole Local Government, Prince Aleshinloye said “Earlier today, PDP thugs had unleashed violence in local government headquarters in Ibarapa East, Saki West, Atisbo, Ibadan North East , Ido, Ogo Oluwa, Surulere South and Ibadan South East local government areas even with the heavy presence of the Police who seems helpless as the mayhem thrives.
”It would be recalled that the governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde had met with the Caretaker chairmen yesterday where he assured them of their right, even, when it is illegal to occupy the local councils having said that he did not meet democratically elected chairmen in office when he took over governance on May 29, 2019”.
Governor Makinde was also alleged to have doled out a sum of N3.5m (three million, five hundred thousand naira) to each of the caretaker chairmen so as to mobilise their people in readiness for their return to the local councils today. The Governor was also said to have held a private meeting with a leader of proscribed transportation union, Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila popularly known as Auxiliary where the Union chieftain was given an undisclosed amount of money as mobilisation for today’s event.
Prince Ayodeji Abass-Alesinloye further describes the invasion of local councils as the height of executive recklessness by Governor Makinde while advising the governor to live true to his responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the state by respecting the rule of law as pronounced by the Supreme Court on the local government administration.
“It is quite unfortunate that the Governor is now the one promoting chaos with his support for this illegality ”
The ALGON chairman however urged officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to live up to their responsibility by taking proper steps as regard the political thugs causing mayhem in the State.
“Our fight is legitimate. The Supreme Court has ruled on this that no Governor has the right to dissolve democratically elected local government administration. The constitution is also clear on this”.
Abass- Aleshinloye also warns against the continual tampering of the finances of Local Councils as being done by the Caretaker chairmen.
“ Let me sound a note of warning for the umpteenth time. Tampering with finances of Local government by Caretaker chairmen is the height of illegality. The law will take its course on any of them who does that. We have written to banks on this and we do not expect the banks to be in connivance in this illegality Aleshinloye concludes.
