The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) has demanded an open and official reversal of the suspension placed on the Chairman of the Alimosho Local Council by the Lagos State House of Assembly, to set the record straight.

Recall that on Monday, October 7, the House of Assembly suspended Mr. Jelili Sulaimon from office over various allegations and replaced him with his Vice, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson, to take over the running of the council.

In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak, yesterday, the rights group said that although the recent intervention by the president has somehow restored some peace and unhindered operations in the affected council with the lifting of the suspension, the lawmakers should make the reversal official unless they have a sinister motive.

He said: “Although the recent intervention has somehow restored some peace and unhindered operations in the affected local council, it is indeed our conviction that the Lagos State House of Assembly should as well make an open, official reversal on its earlier unconstitutional declaration, to set the record straight.

“Before the unconstitutional open declaration on Alimosho local council, the Lagos State House of Assembly had earlier conducted a public hearing on the bills to regulate the affairs of the councils. This is indeed an abuse of power and undermines the principle of democratic governance. This is because the local councils have their own parliament to regulate their affairs as constitutionally enshrined.

“According to the Justice Garba Lawal-led Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, the local councils have been granted full administrative and financial autonomy. The above judgment has ended the era of those days when the local councils were tools for funds swindling and money laundering by state governments and such cabals who deprive the people of democratic participation at the local levels.”

While appreciating the swift intervention of the president on the crisis, which he said has affirmed the separation of powers among all the arms of government and the independence of local councils, Isiak said: “As related in our recent world press conference, if not for the proactive and timely intervention of your office among others, the monumental abomination of the Lagos State House of Assembly could have laid a bad and unforgettable precedence and given President Tinubu a bad name where ordinarily he should have claimed credit.

“The decisive action of your office in safeguarding the independence of local governance is, therefore, commendable and reflects a commitment to democratic principles and the well-being of the people not only in Lagos State but across Nigeria.

“The attempted compromise of Alimosho’s autonomy posed a significant threat to the ability of local leaders to serve their constituents effectively. Your office’s swift response has not only protected Alimosho but has also set precedence for the protection of local councils across the length and breadth of Nigeria.”

Isiak noted that the Supreme Court judgment is a victory for the people to assert governance from below, and it must never be arm-twisted by any forces, whether it is the state government or the State House of Assembly.

“HURMA calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as all governors and political leaders, to ensure that the autonomy secured through the ruling of the Supreme Court is implemented in full. It is imperative that all local council officials are empowered to perform their duties effectively, free from undue interference and control from higher levels of government.

“Political leaders, particularly the leadership of state assemblies and the governors with vested interests, must recognize that local councils are not mere extensions of state authority, but rather autonomous entities that are vital to fostering development, enhancing accountability, and improving service delivery to our citizens.

“HURMA emphasizes that respecting local council autonomy is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative that contributes to national cohesion and development, as well as the enhancement of fiscal federalism that we have clamored for decades,” he said.