Oyo Assembly orders arrest of self-imposed caretaker chairmen, summons SSG

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the Divisional Police Officers in charge of Asabari Local Council Development Area, Irepo Local Government Area and Lagelu West Local Council Development Area to arrest anyone parading himself as caretaker chairman for those council areas.

This was sequel to a point of order raised by Hon. Gbenga Oyekola (Atiba State Constituency) who drew the attention of the house to the impending danger on the inauguration of two rejected nominees and substitution of the screened nominee for Lagelu West LCDA.

Oyekola who called the attention of his colleagues to some reports in the online media, said that the house screened 55 nominees but the executive headed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi went ahead to inaugurate 57 nominees by not taking into consideration the two nominees who had earlier been rejected for the positions by the house.

He added that there was impending crisis in Lagelu West LCDA over who is the authentic chairman as the person who was screened had been replaced with another person without the knowledge of the house.

The house had last week dropped Mudasir Agbaje (Irepo LGA) and Taiwo Adeleke (Asabari LCDA) for issues of certificate and performance at the screening exercise.

Oyekola said “The house screened 55 nominees and rejected two, but to my utmost dismay, the two were sworn-in. ‎

“Also, we screened Akeem Aransi for Lagelu West LCDA but unfortunately another person was sworn-in and assumed office.

“On that note I want the house to produce the copy of the letter we sent to the executive. We sent the name to the executive and they received it.”

Others who spoke condemned the action of the executive arm over what they called “illegality”.

Speaker of the house, Hon. Michael Adeyemo stated that “The issue raised has come to the knowledge of the house and actions would be taken on it to invite the Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
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“We have the right to screen, we don’t nominate, the fault is not from us”.

Adeyemo then read a letter from the Governor dated 6th April 2017 notifying the house on the replacement of Akeem Aransi for Abiodun Oladeji.

He said the letter was received last week but could not be read because it was not received during plenary days.

He then ordered the DPOs in charge these areas to arrest those parading themselves as the chairmen in these areas to prevent break down of law and order in the areas.

He said “Anybody that is parading himself as Chairman for Asabari LCDA, Irepo LGA and Lagelu West LCDA should be arrested. The two, Asabari and Irepo, there is no chairman there.

“On the issue of Lagelu, the person that was swore-in but not screened should also be arrested and the man that was screened but was not inauguratedd should stop parading himself as the chairman, doing so he should be arrested.

“We as the legislative arm, we have to uphold the principle of rule of law. Members have said their own, we have to invite and get across to others.” ‎

Chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. Josuha Oyebamiji who briefed journalists after the plenary said that the order takes effect immediately.