LG Crisis: Constitution Remains Our Guide — Oyo Govt Insists

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Oyo State Government has vowed to ensure full observance of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in handling current controversy surrounding its sack of 68 illegal local council chairmen in the State.

It also cautioned that the full wrath of the law will be deployed against individuals and groups threatening to derail the peace and development of the State.

Further warning that it will not condone or shy away from dealing with those that decide to embrace ruinous path in their agitations, the Government said this has become imperative following the threats of violence by the sacked illegal chairmen and the stay-at-home order issued to all local government workers in the State by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

A statement by Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, said though government would not begrudge the NULGE for directing its members to stay away from work in response to persistent threats emanating from the sacked chairmen of local councils and LCDA, it urged all workers in the state to reject any act of brigandage by persons or groups seeking to derail the peace and progressive governance in the State.

The statement said; “The attention of the Government of Oyo State has been drawn to a sit-at-home order announced by the State Chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

“The Government understands that the sit-at-home order was a response to persistent threats emanating from the sacked chairmen of local councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

“Whereas the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde will not begrudge NULGE for seeking to preserve its members from a perceived Armageddon as promised by the sacked council chairmen, the Government would like to put it on record that it will continue to stand by the dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

“As earlier stated in a position by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, issues concerning the tussle over local government administration in Oyo State are before the Court of Appeal and that the two cases are scheduled for hearing on February 19, 2020.

“Any lover of peace, progress and democracy would have no problems waiting to hear from the Court on the day stated.

“We, however, urge all workers in the state to reject any act of brigandage by any persons or groups who are merely seeking to derail the peace and progressive governance that have been the lot of the State since May 29, 2019.”

Appealing to the workers and people of Oyo State to ignore what it described as “threat of violence and brigandage” from the sacked chairmen, the statement assured that “the train of unmatched groundbreaking good governance in Oyo State started by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, cannot be stopped”.