The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 general elections in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has laid the blame for the local government crisis in the state on Governor Seyi Makinde.
He stated that the present administration aggravated the situation by appointing caretaker chairmen.
Adelabu in a statement titled, “ALGON/state government local government tussle: My stand”, appealed to the warring parties in the saga to tread the path of peace while the imbroglio is resolved.
He expressed concern over the loss of life and sustaining of injuries among supporters of the sacked council bosses and appointed caretaker chairmen following the tussle on who takes control of local government administration in Oyo State.
He stated that the current crisis was unfortunate but preventable.
One person was reported to have lost his life in Surulere local government area of the state while others sustained various injuries during a violent clash between supporters of both the APC and PDP.
Adelabu said no sane person would stand by while the state was set on fire by a situation that required mature and sagacious handling by those at the helms of affairs.
His words: “No struggle for reinstatement to the office of either of the parties is worth the shedding of blood of politicians and innocent citizens. The chairmen are fighting for their fundamental right to complete their tenure as duly elected chairmen and they have taken the right step by taking legal action to advance their cause. The crisis was aggravated by the current government which appointed caretaker chairmen where there was no vacancy.”
Adelabu called on Governor Makinde of Oyo State to do the right thing by “revoking the appointment of the caretaker chairmen and either wait for the final court judgement on the case or enter into negotiation with the elected chairmen to see how they can work together and allow them to complete their terms.”
He however called on security agencies both at the federal and the state levels to wade into the current situation and ensure that citizens were protected.
The statement reads: “The elected LG chairmen in my opinion are fighting for their fundamental legal and political rights as the duly elected representatives of the people at the local government level. There was an election that brought them into position and whether that election was fraught with illegalities or not participated in by other political parties is entirely another kettle of fish which should not be conflated with the fact that they were elected according to the provisions of our constitution.
“After the announcement of their removal from office by the current administration, they have also chosen the path of peace and legality by approaching the courts to reclaim their mandate which is quite commendable and have my full and unconditional support.
“I am also aware that the Oyo State government has approached the courts to get a judgement on the perceived illegalities that warranted their suspension from office in the first instance, the appointment of caretaker chairmen where there was no vacancy set the foundational tone for this current deplorable situation of bloodshed and brigandage in our state.
“It is like putting the cart before the horse. What the government ought to have done is wait for the outcome of its case in court before constituting the caretaker committee in respective LGs if the court ended up ruling in their favour.
“I am using this opportunity to call on the appointed caretaker chairmen to henceforth stop struggling the right to the LGs’/LCDAs’ offices with the democratically elected chairmen while the state government and the elected chairmen find a common ground to resolve this issue amicably without further bloodshed.
“The state government should do the needful by revoking the appointment of caretaker chairmen pending the final judgement on this case or enter into negotiation with elected LG chairmen on mode of working together for the betterment of our state to resolve this imbroglio. Their distinct functions are clearly and unambiguously spelt out in the constitution and one level of government should not strangulate the other in a decent democracy.
“Although I am fully in support of the elected chairmen’s stand on reclaiming their mandate and urge all party leaders, both at national, zonal and state levels to continue to lend their support to the struggle, elected chairmen on their part should continue to tow the path of peace as no struggle for reinstatement is worth the blood of innocent citizens or any politician. They should caution their followers to eschew violence and allow the law to take its course.
“We might be divided along party lines but we are all from this state and have no other state to call ours but Oyo-state. We owe our loyalty to this state and to our children’s children, not to party politics and political violence that will bring nothing but bloodshed and destruction.
“Security operatives both at the federal and state levels should also wade into the current situation and ensure citizens are protected.”
