The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has warned executive chairmen and career officers in all the 33 local government councils across the state to distance themselves from the spirited efforts by Governor Seyi Makinde to subvert the verdict of the Supreme Court which recently granted financial autonomy to the third tier of government in the country warning that toeing the the line of the governor might land them in jail sooner than later.
Gov. Makinde has emerged the lone voice among the 36 state governors condemning the Apex Court’s verdict as he was quoted to have described the development as a distraction while he also inaugurated a special committee to review the judgement and mandated members of the committee to come up with recommendations which would enable him maintain the status quo as it concerns the joint account arrangement between states and local government councils.
In a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC accused the governor of covetousness and lack of respect for constitutional democracy and the rule of law as well as having inordinate ambition to make Oyo state a separate republic from Nigeria with a view to making himself a demi-god that would be worshipped by all and sundry.
“The whole world did not realize the magnitude of damage done to the third tier of government in Oyo state in the last 62 months until Gov. Makinde came out openly to castigate both the federal government and the Judiciary on the issue of financial autonomy. The governor has been fighting tooth and nail to promote unpopular call for a reversal of the verdict which has been described, by most people, as a victory for the masses. Unfortunately for Gov. Makinde, his recent actions have confirmed the allegations bothering on the embezzlement of council funds being leveled against him by our Party (APC) and others.
“It is now crystal clear that the PDP governor had mapped out an 8-year plan aimed at looting LGA funds but got his dream truncated by the celebrated verdict of the Supreme Court. For the avoidance of doubt, the decision of the Apex Court remains sacrosanct even if he (Makinde) refused to agree to it. Meanwhile, Oyo state is a fraction of the nation called Nigeria and it is wrong for a governor to claim ‘sovereignty’ even as he depends on the federal government handouts and allocations to pilot the affairs of his state.
“On the final note, the reported withdrawal of the imposed 33 council chairmen from ALGON is just a smokescreen as we are aware of a script already handed to them by their principal. There is absolutely nothing Gov. Makinde can do to make him the recipient of the allocations due to 33 LGAs again and any chairman or career officer who compromise the provision of the law on account of blind loyalty or unfounded fear would pay for it as efforts are also in top gear to make the governor and other accomplices account for the trillions of naira already mismanaged at the expense of the LGAs.” Sadare concluded.
