Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state committed an unforced error when he sacked Local Government Chairmen elected during late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s tenure.
That was a costly error and a needles one for that matter.
The Law under which those Local Government Chairmen were elected stipulated a three years tenure and except by a judicial pronouncement to the contrary, their tenure could not be terminated by executive Fiat.
Unfortunately, instead of Governor Makinde to take his time and seek judicial opinions concerning the status of the Council Chairmen, he dissolved the Local Governments hours after he took oath of office in 2019 and thus opened the route for a judicial tussle between the Government and the sacked Chairmen.
The Chairmen, expectedly, challenged the action of the Governor in court ultimately, the Supreme court delivered a judgement that faulted the action of the Governor and ordered that salaries and allowances of the Chairmen and other officers be paid.
Before then, while the matter of the Chairmen was still at the High court, the Supreme court delivered a judgement in similar circumstances in one of the states where Local Government Chairmen were illegally removed by the Governor.
The Supreme court in Its wisdom at that point, asked the Attorney general of the Federation to obtain copies of the judgment and serve it on all states having same issues.
The Attorney general of the Federation at that point served the judgment on the Governor of Oyo state and advised Governor Makinde to reinstate the sacked Chairmen in line with both the judgment and the advice of the Supreme court.
Unfortunately, instead of Governor Makinde to follow the advice and thereby save funds, he chose to go against the advice of both the Supreme court and the Attorney general of the Federation.
He cleverly, with the aid of a section of the press created a narrative that portrayed the Attorney general of the Federation as a meddlesome interloper who wanted to impose the Chairmen, who were elected on the platform of the APC like himself on him.
The Governor’s reckless decision came with a cost. A heavy one for that matter.
First, the illegally selected Caretaker Committee of Governor Makinde stayed in office for the period in controversy and we’re drawing salaries, allowances and security votes.
Now, the sacked Chairmen will eventually collect salaries, allowances and security votes for the same period!
Duplication of payment.
Two, despite the fact that Governor Makinde lost in the Supreme court and the fact that the Supreme court of Nigeria is the Apex court in Nigeria, which decision is final, he has flagrantly been disobeying the judgment of the Apex court by refusing to pay the sacked Chairmen.
The matter as we speak, is again on the route to the Supreme court for the second time because Governor Makinde claimed not to understand the judgment of the first instance.
He is bound to lose and he knows but he is rubbing his sadistic ego, wasting billions of Naira belonging to Oyo state as legal fees.
The Governor had one time on Radio promised not to give a dime to the sacked Chairmen, saying he would ensure they celebrated Christmas with a dry purse.
Only God knows how much the Governor have wasted, paying Lawyers to pursue a matter aimed only at achieving vendetta.
In developed Countries of the world, Governor Makinde and his Caretaker Committee ought to be in court now giving accounts on how they have mismanaged the resources of the Local Governments during the period in dispute.
I am of the view and strongly so, that Governor Makinde and those pretenders, no matter how long, must be made to refund every ten Kobo of Oyo state funds spent by them within the period.
This is one of the reasons why the people of Oyo state must reject Governor Makinde and his PDP during the forthcoming Local Government Election.
A lot of atrocities have been been committed in the Local Governments this past five years.
It is time to break Makinde’s monopoly and manipulation of the Local Government system in Oyo state.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
