The Asiwaju Odo O’odua, who is also a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Asiwaju Rotimi Ajanaku has called for caution on the crises rocking the administration of local government council in the state.
Ajanaku who stated this on Sunday while addressing journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State also warned all the parties involved to allow the rule of law to take preeminence, as it’s the only acceptable way to settle dispute without creating further rancour.
“The political atmosphere in Nigeria is saturated already, it can’t admit any further pressure or unrest. It is on this premise that I, the Asiwaju Odo O’odua appeal to whoever has intention to foment trouble, or act as agents to cause crises in the state to have a rethink.
“Oyo State is our territory and Ibadan is our home, we can’t afford to fold arms and allow some individuals to destroy our land which everyone in Nigeria testified to as the most peace and accommodating state in Nigeria. All the parties involved should wait for the ruling of the competent court and obey every order granted by the Judges. Whoever disobeys court order will be held responsible and pay for his foolishness in a painful way irrespective of his political affiliation or status.
“No one should think he has monopoly of hooliganism/thuggery, we shall do all within our capacity to support the security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the offenders and criminals. Once more, I’m appealing to all parties involved or affected by the local government councils’ tussles in Oyo State to tread with caution,” Ajanaku Adviced
“It’s also important to note that it really matters not who is affected in the cause of eradicating illegality, whether ruling party or opposition or even the state governor or political warlords, the most important thing is sanitisation of our nascent democracy and reinforcement of our judiciary system for the protection of Nigerian Constitution,” he added.
“Let me also add this, that the system we adopted in the administration of local government councils in Nigeria is responsible for underdevelopment and retarded growth in the grassroots and by extension affected the macroeconomics and GDP in Nigeria. This is not peculiar to Oyo State alone, what kind of development are we expecting in a situation where governors had already pocketed the activities and management of local government councils.”
Ajanaku expressed displeasure with the unrepentant attitude of some state governors.
He said “why are the governors adamant and unwilling to allow local government in their states to enjoy absolute and sincere autonomy. The main reason why they’re stubborn on the issue, it’s corruption and no human feelings, no consideration for the masses.
“It’s important now for the national legislators to consider the review of the law that established local government councils in Nigeria as important service to the citizens of this great country. It’s only when this is done that people at the grassroots can enjoy the dividend of democracy.
“The bulk of this great assignment rested on the national assembly. So it behoves of them to allow masses interest to override individual selfish interest. They should consider it as a good legacy to leave behind after their tenor. And posterity will continue to speak on their behalf even after death. Same thing Yar’Adua did and till today people are celebrating him, even though he’s no more.
“The review should include a bill on restructuring of election process. The election of candidates for the local government councils’ chairmen and counselors should be allowed to come up same day, same time with that of the state governors and state legislators. Local government elections should also be conducted by the INEC, and to get this done the tenure of the elected local government executives must be adjusted to four years.”
“For the stability of this political dispensation power must return to the people, this would encourage good governance, accountability, transparency and also reduce poverty in Nigeria. Once that is done every elected person would strive to leave behind a good legacy, as their faith will be in the hands of the electorates and imposition of candidates will go into oblivion.”
Meanwhile, Ajanaku also advised the youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians, whose children are in overseas or in schools where they pay multimillion naira yearly to use them to disrupt the peace in the state.
“My appeal also goes to our youth, they should stay away from any act that can throw the peace in Oyo State into jeopardy and lead to destruction of lives and property. Many of the politicians using youths for political violence have their children in abroad and pay millions of naira yearly for their school fees and feeding allowance. They should also note that this politicians have no compensation to pay their family if eventually they’re killed in the process.
Responding to allegation that the affected chairmen who are APC members forcefully returned to office and caused pandemonium. The Chairmen were also alleged of frustrating efforts of the state governor toward peaceful resolution. Ajanaku disagreed with the statement.
He said, “it’s the order granted by a competent court of law that returned them to office, otherwise they wouldn’t have done that, especially when the governor belong to opposition. Anyway, my advice to the chairmen and their supporters is to give chance to the court of competent jurisdiction to decide whatever step to take next. They are progressives and they must exhibit attitude of a real progressive.
“My advice to the governor is to allow the court to resolve the issue, while he faces numerous problems/challenges begging for his attention in the state, he shouldn’t be adding to existing probems. He should concentrate on resolving the crises affecting the following sectors education, transportation, road construction, agriculture among others in the state. I think the governor knows that the affected Chairmen belong to a party, any negotiation or caucus meeting without the involvement of their party leaderships will end in futility,” Ajanaku concluded.
