Olu.Babalola,Ibadan
A cold war has erupted in Oyo State between Governor Oluseyi Makinde who was sworn in on Wednesday and Chairmen of 33 Local government Councils as well as Head of Council development areas.
Also included in the grouse are all political appointees of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi who were massively sacked.
But the Council Chairmen have turned down the directive of the new Governor describing it as illegal and uncalled for in view of a matter pending in court
Governor Makinde late Wednesday directed his newly appointed Chief of Staff Chief Bisi Ilaka to dissolve all local government councils and local council development areas to vacate their offices with immediate effect.
They were directed to hand over to the Head of local Government administration or the most senior Directors.
Similarly,all Chairmen and Board members of parastatals were directed to vacate their positions with immediate effect.
Embargo has also been placed on their accounts with immediate effect until further notice.
However, controversy has trailed the directive of the Governor which was seen as a vendetta against the government of All Progressives Congress under which they were elected.
The chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, Prince Abass Aleshinloye has reacted to the purported dissolution of the council by the new state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde as unlawful.
In a release signed by the chairman, Aleshinloye said "It has come to the notice of ALGON Oyo State branch that the new governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has purportedly dissolved all democratically elected local government in the state.
"This to say the least is unconstitutionally unwise, unexpected and too hasty for a new government that is yet to find its feet. This illegality was reported in the news media.
"ALGON Oyo rejects this unconstitutional act of Mr. Governor. It is illegal and a contempt of a subsisting court injunction against any dissolution of the councils as ordered by Justice A. A. Aderemi of High Court 2, Ibadan, Oyo State., on May 6, 2019.
"We wish to appeal to all duly elected local government chairmen, councillors, supervisors and Oyo State citizens in these respective councils to remain calm and be peaceful.
"ALGON will seek all democratic and constitutional means to correct this illegal act.
All will be appropriately updated as events unfold.
"We count on your solidarity and maximum moral support in this democratic struggle", the statement added.
The victims,according to investigation,have started lobbying the stake holders in the party coalition that defeated the APC in the last election.
One of the Chairmen who spoke with our Reporter from the reception of Senator Rasidi Ladoja former Governor of Oyo state and one of the arrow heads in the coalition that defeated APC said "please,call me back later in the day.I am waiting for Senator Ladoja.My fellow Chairmen have made an appointment with him.
The Chairman who wanted to remain anonymous believed that they would resolve the conflict amicably rather than legal approach.
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