Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, the Sacked Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo Chapter has commended Mr Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice over the call for immediate disbandment of caretaker committees currently administering the local governments and Local Council Development Areas LCDAs in the state.
Malami had also in the letter called on the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde to restore elected local government representatives in Oyo State.
Gov. Seyi had on assumption of office in May 2019, dissolved the elected local government executives in the state, a year into their administration.
The governor had in December 2019 inaugurated caretaker committees for the 33 local governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
But in a letter issued by the minister and addressed to Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State with reference HAGF /OYO /2020 /Vol. I/I. dated 14 January, 2020 was entitled; “Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected local government councils and appointment of caretaker committee: The urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions,” Malami had called on Governor Makinde to restore the sacked LG chairpersons to office.
“The need to immediately disband all caretaker committees and restore democratically elected representatives to man the local governments has therefore become obligatory,” he said.
Malami requested that the commissioner take positive steps to ensure compliance, adding that the president and other relevant agencies would advise on further compliance measures to be taken in national interest.
According to Malami, “in view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all 36 States of the Federation.
“The common practice by some state governors in dissolving elected local government councils is unconstitutional, null and void.
“So also any system of local government run by Caretaker Committees are out rightly illegal and unconstitutional,” he added.
He urged Makinde to reverse himself over the dissolution of local government administration in the State.
The letter reads further; “to this end, I hereby request all their Excellencies, State Governors and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, who are currently acting in breach of the provisions of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“And also acting in disobedience of the Supreme Court judgment highlighted above to immediately retrace their steps by ensuring compliance with the above in the overall interest of the rule of law and our democracy,” it said.
Malami said that copies of the letter has been sent to the IGP, DSS, EFCC and NFIU.
Abass-Aleshinloye said that the directive has confirmed what they stood for, saying it was wrong for constitutionally elected local government chairmen to be treated in such manner.
“We are glad with this latest development. We want to assure the administration that as law abiding citizens, we will work hand in glove with them to ensure even development in Oyo State.
“We also want to thank the people of Oyo State for standing with us and being law abiding for the duration of the period that the issue lingered,” he said
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