Barely 24 hours to the election of new executive of the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, members of the association has disclosed that Governor Seyi Makinde has imposed a candidate on the them.
This is coming few weeks after the immediate past president of the association, Mr. Bayo Titilola-Sodo has been elected chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
There are three contenders for the office. They are Hakeem Ojo Damilare, Bogunbe Abass Adekunle and Mrs Romoke Opabunmi.
Damilare is head of local government administration, HLGA of Irepo local government; Bogunbe is director of finance at Iseyin while Opabunmi is acting HLGA at Aare Latoosa Local Council Development Area.
They were all prepared for tomorrow’s election until few hours ago.
This morning, according to NULGE members who spoke with OYOINSIGHT.COM, a meeting of all Heads of Local Government Administration, HLGAs, were summoned. In attendance were the chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Remi Ayodele and the permanent secretary of the ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters. The meeting was allegedly at the instance of the governor.
After the meeting, each of the aspirants were called, one after the other, into the meeting venue. All of them were later invited together and Bogunbe and Damilare were said to have been asked to step down for Opabunmi.
Both Bogunbe and Damilare were said to have been allegedly called APC members who cannot be trusted.
Though they said no reason was given for the ‘imposition’ of Opabunmi, they however accused Governor Seyi Makinde of an attempt to further ‘kill’ local government administration in the state. “That is why he prefers a woman. He believes it would be easy to deal with the woman. We are disappointed in Governor Seyi Makinde. We supported him because we had thought he would be a better version of the immediate past Governor. If care is not taken, he has divided us. We know how we do our things. In fact, former governor Abiola Ajimobi didn’t dabble into our affairs. Now, I doubt if we are going to be one after this election again,” one of them told OYOINSIGHT.COM, sobbing.
However, efforts to reach Ayodele proved abortive as he neither picked nor returned calls placed to his mobile number as at the time of filing this report. He has not also returned the message sent to his line.
OYOINSIGHT.COM’s attempts to speak with the duo of Bogunbe and Damilare also did not yield fruits, as they said they were not available for comments. They however promised to get back to this newspaper after meeting their supporters.
Opabunmi did not finish her call with this reporter as she said “let’s talk later.” She had initially asked who the caller was and when she was told, she said “Let’s talk later,” without listening to the question, and ended the call. Background sound however suggested she was in noisy environment, probably with her supporters. However, this newspaper sent her message but she is yet to reply as at press time.
OYOINSIGHT.COM promises to update the story immediately the duo of Ayodele and Opabunmi react.
Related
