IBADAN – The Oyo state government has insisted there is nothing like ALGON presently in the state adding that it ceased to exist with the expiration of the last administration.
In the place of ALGON, it says the state has the Forum of Local Government Chairmen.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Prince Yemi Aderibigbe, disclosed these in a chat with ametrocopy in Ibadan.
Prince Aderibigbe further explained that the Forum of Local Government Chairmen is used when there are Caretaker Chairmen in place rather than elected Chairmen.
“As far as we are concerned, there is no ALGON in Oyo state, ALGON ceased to exist with the last government, we don’t have any interface and we believe we are doing something that will be of benefit to the people and not something inimical.”
The governor’s aide who maintained that the local government election conducted in 2018 by the last administration was illegal added that the conduct of election into the LCDAs made the election illegal.
“You cannot compare what happened here to Ekiti, the conduct of election into the LCDAs made that election illegal and the state government is just trying to exercise its duty in respect of the formation of the new caretaker committee in Oyo state.”
Aderibigbe who observed that the Autonomy granted Local Governments y the Senate recently was belated reaffirmed the importance of independence for the local government for the development of the grassroots.
He, however, stated that the Oyo state government will be ready to grant autonomy as soon as it is passed by the state house of Assembly.
He also commended the lifting of the embargo placed on LG accounts by the state governor saying this will allow for developmental projects by the Chairmen for the benefits of the people.
“It is a good development; it will bring development to the doorsteps of the people, with this, the local government chairmen can start spending the money for developmental projects.”
On the lingering crisis between the ALGON and the state government, Prince Aderibigbe said the government remains unperturbed by the directive of the IGP adding that the IG cannot constitute himself into a court.
“IGP cannot claim to be a court, he is not the Chief law officer and he is not a judge. In as much as the case in question is still in court, nobody has the power to exercise enforcement on a matter that is still in court, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The IG has no power to issue such a directive and we cannot build on illegality, I believe it is a joke taken too far.”
Speaking on the conduct of the Local Government election in the state, the SA Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters said as soon as OYSIEC rolls out its timetable, the election will be conducted.
“The local government election is any moment from now and the OYSIEC has been reconstituted. What remains now is for the OYSIEC to come up with its timetable, in my opinion, in the next 6 months, we should have the election.”
