Chief Abdulateef Ojimi, Chairman of Owodunni Community Development Association – a landlords’ association at Apata in Ido Local Government Area, recently came out to draw attention of Seyi Makinde led government to the pains of the residents on basic social amenities. Ojimi claimed that a particular leg-bridge which connects neighbouring communities at the local district has broken down for months.
The community leader mentioned that the leg-bridge has a great social and economic impact on the area. Saying that efforts had been made at the Ido Local Government for its rehabilitation but to no avail. He also confirmed that majority of the developments at Owodunni were implemented with donations from the residents’ purses without any hand of fellowship from either local or state government.
This has made it evident that countless areas in and outside Ibadan are yet to feel the spirit of democracy in their local domains. However, the statutory duties of the local governments which include construction and maintenance of roads, streets lighting, drains and other public highways are well-defined and stated in the 1999 Constitution. For underdevelopment at the grassroots, whose fault? Makinde, Constitution or local councils?
Just like Governor and State Honourables, local council Chairmen, Councillors ought to be elected from the registered political parties through secret ballot to independently perform statutory duties for the people at the grassroots. Yet, the constitution indirectly subordinates local councils under the States by consenting the enactment of State-level Acts for the local governments.
With the constituted authority, the State Government often organised local government elections and determined the Council’s tenure of office. Unlike general elections, each State electoral commission fixes convenient dates for the local election. Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, is the body responsible for not only conducting elections but also screens and presents political candidates at the state level.
Depending on the body language of the ruling party or the Governor, a State might decide to spit on the constitution and hold no council election. A decade ago, during the administrations of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, all the 33 local governments were ruled by the Caretaker Chairmen – the loyalists and party members of the Governor, and heaven did not fall.
In spite of the approach of their selection, the Caretaker Chairmen implemented their statutory duties and commissioned projects for local areas without any kind of hijacking by the State Government. However, a few months to the 2019 general elections and ending of Ajimobi’s second term, the State government conducted local government election but the then main opposition party, People Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the same. While members of All Progressive Congress (APC) emerged in all 33 local councils.
With the coalition of defunct parties and political leaders in the State, Omituntun administration came on board after Engr. Seyi Makinde of the People Democratic Party (PDP) with 56.24% of the total votes cast ahead of the current Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu representing All progressive Congress (APC) scored 39.04%. One would have soliloquized the survival of Makinde amidst 33 APC local government Councils.
As expected, Makinde dissolved all the newly elected local Councils ushered by Ajumose administration. And these aggrieved local councils who had spent some months in office jointly dragged Makinde and the State Government to the court of law for redress which lasted for two years. The Supreme Court, on May 21, 2021, held judgement in favour of the sacked local chairmen and ordered the State Government to pay their salaries and allowances.
Shortly after the Supreme Court’s judgement, Makinde led government conducted a fresh local poll and All Progressive Congress (APC) also boycotted it, while members of the ruling party, People Democratic Party (PDP) elected into all local councils across the state. Interesting?
Months back, Saharan Reporters reported that some PDP Councillors alleged Makinde for starving them of their monthly statutory funds, claiming further that the Governor gave them N120, 000.00 instead of N300, 000.00 per month. And not quite long Makinde publicly mentioned not granting financial autonomy to the local government at the 2023 gubernatorial debate.
Now, another local government election will be held in the first quarter of 2024, the main political parties in the country – PDP and APC, have decided to participate. And OYSIEC sets to screen all political candidates with fairness. This forthcoming election is going to be competitive and APC candidates seem to be contending with Makinde rather than PDP members.
The 2024 election might be a retaliation for APC against the Makinde led government, if their members got a majority of the local Council chairs. And the State Government would find it challenging to seizure some local projects and delay statutory funds meant for the Councils as alleged above.
In their last four years of non-performance at local councils, some PDP Chairmen were unhappy but which mouth would they use to allege their leader, Makinde. The coming of APC members in the 2024 poll might give aggrieved PDP Chairmen to ally with APC Chairmen against the Governor.
The people are also set to witness a collaborative government in Omituntun 2.0 after two decades in Oyo State. And hopefully for genuine sustainable development at all 33 local governments.
Oyo Ko ni baje o.
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