As the May 29 inauguration day of the Oyo State
governor-elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, draws nearer, there is anxiety
among the interim chairmen of the 33 local government areas of the state
over their fate in the next dispensation.
The caretaker chairmen are all members of the Peoples Democratic Party while Ajimobi is of the Action Congress of Nigeria.
They were appointed by Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in December 2010 to man the various local governments following the expiration of the tenure of the substantive council bosses.
Their appointment which was approved by the state House of Assembly was initially for three months.
By the time the initial three months expired in March 2011, the state government was too engrossed in preparation for the April general elections for the state Independent Electoral Commission to be mobilised for the council poll.
That forced the government to again approach the House for an extension of three months for the interim council helmsmen. The request was also granted.
The additional three months granted them is expected to lapse on June 16, 2011.
However, with the exit of Alao-Akala who appointed them, there are fears that the next administration will show them the way out.
Our correspondent learnt that many of the interim chairmen have begun moving their personal belongings out of their offices since the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Ajimobi the winner of the governorship election.
But while some of them are preparing to go, a handful of them is also said to be relying on the fact that since they are in office by a resolution of the state House of Assembly, it is only by such a resolution that they can be removed.
Those who belong to this school of thought are, therefore, of the view that Ajimobi cannot immediately on assumption of duty sack them unless the House does so.
They are also banking on the fact that the House can only be reconstituted in June after the governor’s inauguration.
When our correspondent sought the opinion of the interim chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, he insisted that the issue was a constitutional matter.
He said as council bosses, they were expected to uphold the rule of law and because of that, they would remain in office up until June 16 when their tenure expires irrespective of who the governor is and the political party he belongs.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
The caretaker chairmen are all members of the Peoples Democratic Party while Ajimobi is of the Action Congress of Nigeria.
They were appointed by Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in December 2010 to man the various local governments following the expiration of the tenure of the substantive council bosses.
Their appointment which was approved by the state House of Assembly was initially for three months.
By the time the initial three months expired in March 2011, the state government was too engrossed in preparation for the April general elections for the state Independent Electoral Commission to be mobilised for the council poll.
That forced the government to again approach the House for an extension of three months for the interim council helmsmen. The request was also granted.
The additional three months granted them is expected to lapse on June 16, 2011.
However, with the exit of Alao-Akala who appointed them, there are fears that the next administration will show them the way out.
Our correspondent learnt that many of the interim chairmen have begun moving their personal belongings out of their offices since the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Ajimobi the winner of the governorship election.
But while some of them are preparing to go, a handful of them is also said to be relying on the fact that since they are in office by a resolution of the state House of Assembly, it is only by such a resolution that they can be removed.
Those who belong to this school of thought are, therefore, of the view that Ajimobi cannot immediately on assumption of duty sack them unless the House does so.
They are also banking on the fact that the House can only be reconstituted in June after the governor’s inauguration.
When our correspondent sought the opinion of the interim chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, he insisted that the issue was a constitutional matter.
He said as council bosses, they were expected to uphold the rule of law and because of that, they would remain in office up until June 16 when their tenure expires irrespective of who the governor is and the political party he belongs.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
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