Pandemonium As Sacked Council Chairmen Resume In Oyo

Governor Seyi Makinde

There was tension in the various local government areas and local council development areas across Oyo State on Monday as some sacked local government chairmen and councillors, under the aegis of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, resumed at their former duty posts.

The Oyo State Government had recently appointed caretaker committee chairmen in place of the sacked chairmen, who insisted that they would continue to perform their duties as council chairmen until the end of their tenure.

The embattled state chairman of ALGON, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, said in Ibadan on Monday that his colleagues, being duly elected to office during the tenure of former governor Abiola Ajimobi, were back to their former offices.

Abass-Aleshinloye, who was the Chairman of the Oluyole Local Government of Oyo State, said their return was in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment.

Abass-Aleshinloye said, “Our tenure is to expire next year and after the expiration of our tenure, Governor Seyi Makinde still has about two years to conduct election. The days of impunity in this country are over.”

He said other sacked ALGON members resumed at their offices except in few cases where they were locked out.

Expressing worries that Makinde, who rode to power on the wings of the judiciary had disobeyed court order, Abass-Aleshinloye said, “The same Supreme Court you are celebrating is the same Supreme Court that gave us the judgment that we are talking about.

“You decides to respect the one that favours you but abandoned us. It is unfortunate; I don’t see it persisting.”

The sacked council chairmen were said to have forcefully entered their former offices on Monday.

It was gathered that Olamijuwonlo, a son of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, resumed at the Ogbomoso North Local Government amid a crowd of supporters.