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New Local Government ‘ll Spur Grassroots Development-Ogunkanmi

Published

9 years ago

March 17, 2016

The immediate past Executive Secretary, Ayedire Local Government of Osun state, Mr Gbenga Ogunkanmi has described the creation of additional local government, area councils and administrative offices by Governor Rauf Aregbesola as strong political will to develop the state and ensure participation of large people in government.

Ogunkanmi, who described Aregbesola as a worthy political leader, commended the governor on the creation of additional 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), three Area Councils and two Administrative Offices, describing the move as laudable.

According to him, the creation of the new local government would bring government and development more closer to the people, describing those criticising Aregbesola on the creation of the new local government as detractors and retrogressive in thinking.

Speaking with CityMirrorNews on Thursday in an interview, Ogunkanmi said that the new local governments would spur development of the grassroots and bring their habitants to limelight economically, socially and politically.

Ogunkanmi maintained that the introduction of parliamentary system to the local governments in the state would reduce the cost of governance and enhance quality representation which in-turn will ensure and sustain good governance.

He argued that parliamentary is a democratic system of government and process of electing representatives (councillors) by the people at the local government, explaining that the chairman would emerge among the elected councillors through an internal electoral process among them.

Though, Nigeria is practicing presidential system of government, Ogunkanmi said that Aregbesola flouted no law in introducing parliamentary system into the local government administration since the state House of Assembly has enacted law for such practice.

Ogunkanmi argued that the executive and legislative arms of government of the state are given the constitutional power to run the political affairs of the local government.

He stated that the creation of new local government would further enhance participation of people at the grassroots in government, and that they would also able to contribute to the administration of their local governments in more meaningful way more than before.