Councilors in Southwest geopolitical zone have urged Governor Seyi Makinde to respect the rule of law by allowing elected local government chairmen and councilors in Oyo state to complete their terms in office irrespective of political nomenclature.
The lawmakers under the aegis of Southwest State Councilors’ Forum added that by promoting rule of law, Governor Makinde would also be projecting Oyo state as a state that is not going back to brigandage era after 8 years of sustainable peace and security enjoyed by residents of the state.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Taiwo Olukunle Alaba which was made available to Mega Icon Magazine , the Forum noted that the Council Chiefs and Councilors were elected in an election conducted by OYSIEC, a duly constituted State Independent Electoral Body.
The statement reads, “We the Southwest Councilors’ Forum of Nigeria wishes to register our voices as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria on purported dissolution of duly elected Local government Chairmen and Councilors in Oyo state by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Abiodun Makinde.
“A May 6th 2019 High Court judgement had also restrained the government and its representative or agencies from dissolving the councils or freezing the bank accounts of the councils.
“The court held that, dissolution of elected council Chairmen and Councilors by the State Government or the House of Assembly is contrary to section 7(1)of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The subsisting Supreme Court judgement on Ekiti state has removed such fanciful act of executive indulgence in using the State House of Assembly or mere announcement of dissolution by the Oyo state Governor’s Chief of Staff to perpetrate illegality and dissolve elected local government on the whims and Caprice of a state government.
“We also appeal to His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde to promote rule of law by allowing elected officials to spend their terms of office regardless of their political nomenclature, the statement concluded.
The Forum, however commended the state’s ALGON and Forum of Councilors led by Prince Abass Aleshinloye and Hon Adesoji Adesokan for being constructive and peaceful in its approach by seeking redress in the court of law.
