Oyo ex-council chairmen throw weight behind LG autonomy

Former local government chairmen under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday threw their weight behind the judgement of the Supreme Court that granted financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.

The ex-council heads, popularly known as ‘Forum 68,’ noted that local government autonomy is a fundamental necessity for grassroots development and national development.

The Chairman of Forum 68, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, while giving a speech during a media parley and get-together organised by the forum, said the judgement should not be seen as a government-to-government affair but as a call to duty for more popular participation by the people to guarantee free and fair elections, as well as allocation and budget monitoring.

He also stressed that Forum 68, which is a forum of elected LG chairmen under the APC, became necessary after Governor Seyi Makinde illegally dissolved them on May 29, 2019, and that it is a product of political ingenuity to continue the struggle for grassroots development, the defence of constitutional democracy, and the rule of law.

“Forum 68 is a child of necessity, a product of our political ingenuity to continue the struggle for grassroots development, the defence of constitutional democracy, and the rule of law after Oyo State governor illegally dissolved elected chairmen of local governments and local council development areas in Oyo State. A spontaneous, unconstitutional action of the governor carried out in the first hour of his swearing-in to office.

“This action of Mr. Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde was eventually declared illegal, unconstitutional, null and void by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on May 7, 2021, with costs attached and full payment of our salaries and entitlements ordered to be paid. The two years of thorough, historic legal battles and political struggles between conscienceless power and powerless conscience have become a reference point in the nation’s jurisprudence for democratic local government autonomy for the enhancement of grassroots development.

“From the time we left office until now, people can see the difference, and the difference is very clear. We dedicate the unique victory to our late leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. May his soul continue to rest in peace.

“We fully support local government autonomy as a fundamental necessity for grassroots development and national development. But our people should not see the recently granted autonomy by the Supreme Court in the case of the FGN vs. State Governments as a mere government-to-government affair. It’s a call to duty for more popular participation by the people to guarantee free and fair elections, allocations, budget monitoring, project choice, and project implementation monitoring. This is to ensure that transparency, integrity, and accountability are not compromised.

“Forum 68 has continued to offer constructive opposition and useful advice when necessary to the state government and local councils on democratic local government administration and grassroots development to move Oyo State forward. We do this through our consistent media engagements on the state of our pace-setting state, speeches, suggestions, contacts, and dialogue at public fora, local government areas, and at the state level,” Prince Aleshinloye said.