Oyo State : Our Pupils’ Lives Matter – Oyo ALGON Tells Makinde , Says Caretaker Committee Is Affront to Rule of Law , Democratic Governance

Oyo State : Our Pupils’ Lives Matter – Oyo ALGON Tells Makinde , Says Caretaker Committee Is Affront to Rule of Law , Democratic Governance .

Oyo state chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) through her chairman, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye has advised governor of Oyo-State, Engr Seyi Makinde to suspend His government’s plan to reopen public schools in the state. The association also described the renewal of caretaker committees’ appointments as continuous affront to rule of law, judicial authority and democratic governance .

“ALGON Oyo State wishes to advise Gov. Seyi Makinde on his government’s plan to reopen schools for resumption of pupils, specifically students in Primary 6, Junior Secondary School Class 3 and Senior Secondary School Class 3 in the state”.

“Well, reopening of schools may be the wish of many parents guardians, teachers and students because of the long time closure and academic time loss due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
This could have been a reason the governor, Engr. Makinde, was eager to reopen the schools on June 29, 2020 for students to prepare for their examinations “.

“On the face of it, the Governor’s action looks good and responsive to the people’s wish and anxiety. But we hasten to add that wishes and anxiety need to be measured carefully against coordinated , verifiable ,medical , scientific deductions in public health emergency like in the case of Covid-19 pandemic with its uncertainty, and projection at finding a cure for the global disease”.

“As the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC severally declared, the nation is yet to flatten the curve and we are now at the increasing rate of community transfer of the disease”.

“The sudden increase in cases of Covid-19 in Oyo State and many other states coupled with high casualty figures is a pointer to the validation of NCDC position. Hence, the state government should apply great caution in rushing to reopen the schools.
As it is now, Oyo State Covid-19 random testing capacity is still very low relative to its huge population and the jump in reported cases of Covid-19 creates more anxiety than the eagerness to be back to school”.

“ALGON hereby calls for a review of the governor’s order for the safety and lives of our dear children. Life comes before certificate, only the living graduate. Our Pupils Lives Matter. Taking the risk of school reopening without 100 percent (not less because they are young) medical assurance of protection and safety of lives of our pupils may be counter productive”.

“Your Excellency, please tarry a bit. May Oyo State not lose any of our pupils, our future, to covid-19 pandemic and may we not witness another round of upsurge of the disease”, Aleshinloye prayed .

“In another development, ALGON views the intention of Mr. Governor to renew the tenure of the illegal caretaker committees he unleashed on the councils in the state despite a subsisting case he filed at the Appeal Court which ordered for status quo remain, as his continuous affront to rule of law, judicial authority and threat to democratic governance” .

“Executive lawlessness has become literally an endemic in the pacesetter state and this lawlessness is a daily ritual and acceptable norm of governance now hence the increase in insecurity and violence in the State. Where rule of law is sacrificed and the court is treated with contempt, and anarchy reigns supreme”.

“May the peace and understanding that Oyo State enjoyed in the past not be totally sacrificed because of lawlessness and crude arrogance of the governor and his desperate cheerleaders. God bless Oyo State, God bless Nigeria “, Abass-Aleshinloye prayed .