LG dissolution: Makinde already creating crisis for himself ― Oyo APC

Tribune Online
LG dissolution: Makinde already creating crisis for himself ― Oyo APC

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has expressed dismay over what it described as “myriad of disappointing actions” already taken by Governor Oluseyi Makinde less than 24 hours after the inauguration of his government, noting that the new governor might have started creating a crisis for himself.

The party in a statement issued in Ibadan, on Thursday, and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dr Azeez Olatunde, particularly decried Makinde’s decision to dissolve elected officials in all the local government councils across the state.

Oyo APC described the action as not only misplaced but a gross violation of the nation’s constitution and the coup against constitutional democracy.

Arguing that the local government Chairmen were elected and had a three-year mandate, the party further pointed to a Supreme court verdict which restricted state governors from arbitrarily sacking heads of local councils.

Making reference to reported violence among members of the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo APC asked Makinde to rather focus on ensuring the maintenance and improvement of the peace and security established by the immediate past administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

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The statement further read, “We, at the APC, had resolved to give him (Gov Makinde) a benefit of the doubt since he was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the March 9, 2019, gubernatorial poll in the state while the court is yet to decide on the petition before it but events in the last 24 hours have suggested to us that there is fire on the mountain.

“How can one swear to an Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic and then turn back a few hours later to wage war against democracy at the grassroots? The decision to dissolve elected officials in all the local government councils across the state is not only misplaced but a gross violation of the nation’s constitution as well as a coup against constitutional democracy.

“One would have expected Gov Makinde to resist pressure from his PDP members who are desperate for political office appointments at the third tier level as mere compensation and uphold the sanctity of the rule of law in view of the fact that the current council chiefs hold a valid 3-year mandate from a popular election and in addition to that, there is a Supreme Court verdict which shields them from being sacked from office irrationally.

“While we call the attention of the higher authorities to the issue of purported dissolution of elected council officials by the new PDP administration in the state, it is pertinent to note that Gov. Makinde has just demonstrated that his party would do everything possible to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s mission to deliver autonomy to local governments in the country.

“Meanwhile, we urge the governor to eschew impunity tendency and get down to serious business of governance by being proactive on key issues such as non-negotiable payment of N30, 000 minimum wage to workers, the security of lives and properties among others,” APC stated.

“Rather than dissipate time and resources on unnecessary actions in order to satisfy the whims and caprices of some political hangers-on, it would be in the overall interest of the state for the governor to approach governance with caution and seek proper guidance from God and appropriate resource persons. The good people of the state are better informed after the successful two terms of Senator Abiola Ajimobi and they deserve the best from his successors.

“The most important challenge before the new PDP administration is how to improve on the fantastic security architecture left behind by Sen. Ajimobi. The same bad eggs among the commercial driver’s union who unleashed terror on the citizenry with impunity during the previous PDP administrations are at it again, according to reports from some parts of Ibadan- the state capital, and the government seems unperturbed.”

LG dissolution: Makinde already creating crisis for himself ― Oyo APC
Tribune Online