Gubernatorial candidate of Alliance for Democracy in the 2019 election in Oyo State, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has chided and described Governor Seyi Mákindé, his aides and the entire PDP in the state as shameless for seeing no reason to be humble by the judgement of the supreme Court handed down on May 7, 2021.
Alao, the Asiwaju of Iroko, in a statement by his head of media, Omotayo Iyanda, also described the judgement by the Supreme Court judges sitting in Abuja over the illegal dissolution of the elected local government chairmen in Oyo State as commendable, victory for democracy and freedom for local government administration in Nigeria.
Alao in the meantime, wishes all Muslims all around the globe barka de sallah as he enjonis them “not to forget so soon the teachings of perseverance, patience, giving, generosity and friendliness which our 30-day fasting has imbued in us.
“On the occasion of Hijrah 1442 (2021) Eid-el-Fitri, I specifically felicitate with the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Agbotomokekere, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo & Delta States, the League of Alfas and Imams, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Làmídì Adeyemi, Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola, Alado of Olodo, the political leaders across Oyo State, especially Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, friends, family members and all Muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
It would, however, be recalled that late Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi conducted election into our local governments and LCDAs in late 2018, less than one year to the end of his tenure as the governor of Oyo State between 2011-2019, the election process that Governor Mákindé regarded as faulty and, therefore, pronounced the LGAs and LCDAs chairmen sacked the first day he assumed office on May 2019 via a circular by his Chief of Staff, Chief Oyebisi Lukman Ilaka.
Following this development, it is recalled that after a lot of altercations and series of crises at various Oyo State local government councils, the impasse ended in courts with the last port being the Supreme Court of Nigeria with a final judgement delivered on 7 May.
Just like the judgement in Oyo State, similar judgement by same Supreme Court was given against the APC Aminu Bello Masari-led administration in Katsina State in favour of the PDP local government chairmen and councillors sacked by Governor Masari six years ago. It was ruled that all their entitlements from the time of their sack to the end of their tenure must be paid before the end of August 2021. If the court had not also ruled against APC in Katsina, PDP would have said they used the federal might against them.
Àlàó, however, stated that rather than cover their faces in shame considering the details of the judgement and how the undemocratic and dictatorial attitude of Governor Mákindé was sternly condemned by the court, the governor’s aides and PDP as a party still have the audacity to be saying the judgement is a victory for our governor and the party ignorantly excusing themselves by saying that after all the governor had offered to pay off before.
PDP as a party and other aides of the governor couldn’t simply decipher that the costs attached to the judgement are too heavy and they would have effect, no doubt, on running of the affairs of the state.
It’s unwholesome paying the caretaker chairmen who have occupied our local governments illegally and still paying the elected chairmen who have been denied to perform their constitutional roles but would now earn salaries and allowances, which will run into billions of naira as we noted in our press release of 27 February, 2020, for the job they did not do.
The PDP leaders and the governor’s aides couldn’t reason that the Supreme Court awarded such damages and costs on the Oyo State Government as a punishment for pre-empting the court, illegality, impunity and executive rascality of our governor as pointed out by Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, the present ALGON chairman in Oyo State.
Our brothers in PDP and in the Engr Mákindé’s government could not see that the attitude of the governor to have warranted such a judgement is an embarrassment to the sensible people of Oyo State.
We think it’s time we stopped acting like jesters in government by defending anything, more so that is senseless an baseless, just to talk for talking sake. When are we starting being apologetic and remorseful in governance? When are we going to stop being stupidly arrogant in power?
It’s very sad the elements in PDP and its government still go around justifying the action of our governor which has put the financial base of Oyo State in jeopardy as August 7, 2021 is set for payment of costs awarded to the APC sacked chairmen, vice chairmen and others.
If Governor Mákindé had listened to our advice as contained again in our release of 29 January, 2020, he would have avoided this pyrrhic victory.
