The Chairmen and Councilors of Local Governments (LG) and Local Council Development Areas(LCDA) in Oyo State have vowed to remain in their respective offices despite Governor Seyi Makinde’s dissolution order issued on Wednesday evening, few hours after his inauguration.
The council bosses, under the aegis of Association of Local Government if Nigeria(ALGON), at a press conference in Ibadan on Thursday said there is a subsisting valid court order which prohibited the governor from dissolving elected local council authorities in the state.
The Chairman of ALGON in the state, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Alshinloye, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen described Makinde’s action as unconstitutional and a violation of a subsisting court order.
He said: “ALGON, Oyo State rejects the unconstitutional act of Mr. Governor. It is illegal, undemocratic, violation of rule of law and contempt of a subsisting court injunction against any dissolution of the Local Government as ordered by Justice A.A. Aderemi of High Court 2, Ibadan, Oyo State, on May 6, 2019.”
Aleshinloye also described the governor’s action as a “crude breach of the right of our people to be democratically governed at local government level as the third tier of government as copiously stated in section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.”
The ALGON Chairman appealed to all duly elected Chairmen of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, Councilors and citizens in the state to remain calm and be peaceful, adding that the Chairmen will “seek all democratic, constitutional and peaceful means to correct this illegal act of the state government.
“Under no law can a state Governor make a declaration, proclamation or directive to summarily dissolve elected Local Government Council or any elected organ of governance created by the constitution,” he said.
The Chairman of ALGON in the state, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Alshinloye, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen described Makinde’s action as unconstitutional and a violation of a subsisting court order.
He said: “ALGON, Oyo State rejects the unconstitutional act of Mr. Governor. It is illegal, undemocratic, violation of rule of law and contempt of a subsisting court injunction against any dissolution of the Local Government as ordered by Justice A.A. Aderemi of High Court 2, Ibadan, Oyo State, on May 6, 2019.”
Aleshinloye also described the governor’s action as a “crude breach of the right of our people to be democratically governed at local government level as the third tier of government as copiously stated in section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.”
The ALGON Chairman appealed to all duly elected Chairmen of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, Councilors and citizens in the state to remain calm and be peaceful, adding that the Chairmen will “seek all democratic, constitutional and peaceful means to correct this illegal act of the state government.
“Under no law can a state Governor make a declaration, proclamation or directive to summarily dissolve elected Local Government Council or any elected organ of governance created by the constitution,” he said.
His words: “An act done in violation of the constitution is null and void, you don’t flout a court order by an act of disobedience.
“The proper thing the governor should have done is to assemble his team of lawyers, study the judgment and challenge it in court. You cannot dissolve elected Local Government Chairmen by way of disobedience.”
Sobaloju vowed to resist by lawful means any one that tries to stop the Chairmen and Councilors from performing their constitutional roles.
Some of the Chairmen at the press conference include Yomi Adefusi, Ibadan West LCDA; Bisi Oladeji, Oyo West Local Government; Niyi Adeagbo, Itesiwaju Local Government; Samuel Egunjobi, Iganna LCDA; Bosun Ajuwon, Ibadan North Local Government; Olayinka Jesutoye, Ogo Oluwa Local Government; Akeem Akintunde, Egbeda Local Government; Habib Ibrahim, Ibarapa Central Local Government and Yinka Adeyemi, Ajorosun LCDA.
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