Posted by By Sufuyan Ojeifo on
Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Public Affairs, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said yesterday that Lagos State Government did not understand the ruling of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, in respect of the seized local government funds as decided already by the Supreme Court.
ABUJA - Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Public Affairs, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said yesterday that Lagos State Government did not understand the ruling of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, in respect of the seized local government funds as decided already by the Supreme Court.
Fani-Kayode in a reaction in Abuja stated "you have to understand that President Olusegun Obasanjo was also a defendant in that suit filed by the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The plaintiff took us to court and what the judge has done was to simply ask us all to go back and look at the Supreme Court judgement and that she felt bound by the decisions in that judgement".
He said further: "Our interpretation of the Supreme Court judgement is simple and clear; and, it is that before we can be expected to release any money to Lagos and its councils, it (the State Government) must revert to the old twenty Local Government listed in the Constitution.
"We say this because the Supreme Court clearly stated that the new Local Government created by Lagos State did not have National Assembly approval and were therefore not properly created.
"Lagos State lost completely on that count and you do not expect us to release fund to them, which will be used to run those illegal Local Government areas.
"We share the pains and sufferings of the people of Lagos State and we take this opportunity to appeal to Governor Ahmed Tinubu to appreciate the difficulties the people are going through and to appreciate the sacrifice other five State Governments have made by reverting to their original Local Government Areas, and to cultivate the courage to do the same.
"That is our understanding of the Supreme Court judgement and we stand by it".
On the advice by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake that the Federal Government should repent and obey the decision of the Supreme Court, Fani-Kayode said that the Lagos State was actually deserving of that advice.
According to him: "They are the ones that need top go and adhere to the judgement of the Supreme Court, not us. The judgement told hem clearly that extra Local Government Areas in the State were not properly created.
"Therefore, the implied obligation on them is to revert. Niger, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and katsina States had the courage o do it for the sake of their people. Why should Lagos State be any different?
"We believe strongly that our interpretation rather than theirs is the right and proper one. We will release the funds as soon as Lagos State reverts to the constitutionally recognized twenty local government areas".