ALGON berates Oyo government over constitution of council caretaker committees

– Says it is an insult to the judiciary, citizens

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Oyo State has described the constitution of the caretaker committee chairmen across the 33 local councils and 35 local government development areas in the state as illegal.

In a statement by its Chairman, Ayodeji Abass-Alesinloye, in Ibadan and made available to The Guardian yesterday, the group said the action was an insult to the judiciary and the collective sensibilities of the citizens.

It said: “The ongoing cases of dissolution of the democratically-elected local councils by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration in Oyo State must by now be clearly appeared even to the blind that the governor with his co-travelers is out on a witch-hunt mission.

“It is disappointing and surprising when sometimes people you believe and expect should know better and guide the public, using a touch of professionalism and ethics, are the ones misleading them because of the benefits of an office that are transient in nature.

“The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, should learn to apply brakes where necessary. He should see caution and apply it accordingly. His conduct as a professional journalist should be a pride in the journalistic profession and things should be done not to satisfy one’s selfish desire as he has been doing.

“Scholarly, the issues surrounding the dissolution of the democratically-elected local councils have been discussed and debated in various quarters and several fora, the outcome of which always ends on the need to allow rules of law to prevail by allowing the chairmen and the councillors who were democratically elected in a free and fair election to complete their tenure.

“With all the aforementioned intellectual submissions, the Governor Makinde-led administration has clearly shown total disrespect for the rule of law and assault to the third arm of government.

“As if all these were not enough, the governor went ahead to appoint illegal caretaker chairmen into all the local councils and LCDAs despite the pending appeal he instituted. What an illegality!

“He refused to obey the judgment of the Supreme Court, which also recently (in another judgment) affirmed his victory. What a double standard! If things were to continue the way Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration is toying with the pronouncement of the court and we keep watching as a people, it means the judiciary has a lot to do.”