The sacked council chairmen elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have described their sacrifice and patience as one that will deepen Nigerian democracy.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues on BOTTOM LINE a political programme on IBR 92.5fm anchored by Aanuoluwapo Omorinde and monitored by OYOINSIGHT.COM at the weekend, Hon. Yomi Adefusi who was the chairman of Ibadan West Local Council Development Area until Governor Seyi Makinde ordered the dissolution of the then ALGON expressed confidence that justice will be served soon.
He dismissed the claim that the sacked chairmen rejected the offer of the state government when a move was made to settle out of court.
“It is not true. The state government never offered us anything. The two lawyers (Chief Akin Onigbinde and Niyi Akintola both SAN) are alive. You can invite them to your programme for clarification. The government was never sincere”.
On whether they are still opened for negotiation he said “but we are in court already”.
Adefusi dismissed rumour that the sacked chairmen rejected the inclusion of Justice Mary Odili on the Supreme Court panel, saying that “I don’t know anything about that. Our party the APC is a law abiding one and we will never do such a thing. We allow justice to run its course”.
He lamented the neglect of the third tier of government in Nigeria saying it is the most important because of its closeness to the grassroot but added that governance at this level has been abandoned.
He suggested that moving forward, anyone below the age of sixty should not aspire for local government chairmanship as leadership at this level requires experience.
Speaking further he said “I would love to see professors becoming local government chairmen because at that level, great expertise is needed”.
Adefusi observed that since he and his Colleagues left the local government across the State, nothing has been happening at the grassroot stressing that “you cannot build on illegality. We have a mandate given to us by the people and that was where we derived our legitimacy. Go and check my LCDA. Within the few period I spent in office, I commissioned blocks of classroom, markets among others. Go and investigate now if anything has been done since I left”.
On the impression that local governments in Oyo State have sufficient funds presently as a result of the limitation of the caretaker chairmen, Adefusi said “I don’t know what is happening there now. I am not there but there is a law restricting their activities”.
