LG crisis: Makinde asks Oyo residents to ignore threats from sacked chairmen

The Oyo state government says it will not allow any group to cause crisis in the state over a dispute on the management of local governments areas.

The government said this in reaction to the stay-at-home order given by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

NULGE had said it gave the directive following the crisis rocking local government administration in the state.

The resolution directed all NULGE members to stay away from work until the issue is resolved.

In a statement by Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, the government said it was insisting on the full observance of the 1999 constitution (as amended) in relation to the controversy surrounding the dissolution of the 68 “illegal” local council chairmen in the state.

It warned individuals who have been threatening to derail the peace of the state to desist from “such ruinous path or face the full wrath of the law” .

It said it would not begrudge NULGE for directing its members to stay away from work in response to persistent threats from the sacked chairmen but urged all workers in the state to reject any “act of brigandage by persons or groups seeking to derail the peace and progressive governance in the state”.

“The attention of the Government of Oyo State has been drawn to a sit-at-home order announced by the State Chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), ” the statement said.

“The Government understands that the sit-at-home order was a response to persistent threats emanating from the sacked chairmen of local councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

“Whereas the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde will not begrudge NULGE for seeking to preserve its members from a perceived Armageddon as promised by the sacked council chairmen, the Government would like to put it on record that it will continue to stand by the dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

“As earlier stated in a position by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, issues concerning the tussle over local government administration in Oyo State are before the Court of Appeal and that the two cases are scheduled for hearing on February 19, 2020.

“Any lover of peace, progress and democracy would have no problems waiting to hear from the Court on the day stated.

“We, however, urge all workers in the state to reject any act of brigandage by any persons or groups who are merely seeking to derail the peace and progressive governance that have been the lot of the State since May 29, 2019.

“We call on the workers and the teeming people of Oyo State to please ignore the threat of violence and brigandage from the sacked chairmen and rest assured that the train of unmatched groundbreaking good governance in Oyo State started by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, cannot be stopped.”

Earlier, Mohammed Adamu, inspector general of police, asked Shiba Olukolu, Oyo commissioner of police to help reinstate the sacked LGA chairpersons.