The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has described the reinstatement of the elected local government council officials as a manifestation of the reality of constitutional democracy which must be accepted by all stakeholders including Governor Seyi Makinde and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Against the backdrop of an alleged illegal dissolution of all chairmen and councillors elected during the administration of his predecessor, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammad Adamu, have had to intervene in the matter with respect to the verdict of the nation’s Apex Court which negated the action taken by Gov. Makinde.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, Oyo APC decried what it called “unprovoked and needless disruption of smooth running of democracy at the local government level of the state by the new PDP administration on account of bad politicking and pursuit of selfish agenda.
“As normalcy is gradually returning to all the 33 LGAs and 35 LCDAs with the return of validly elected officials to their respective offices, we urge the state government to desist from further action capable of putting the Pacesetter State in the news for the negative reasons. No amount of bad politicking would change the dictates of the nation’s Constitution as well as the rule of law.
“Except in places like Ibadan North and Ibadan North East where a group of miscreants mobilized by the PDP stopped the elected officials from gaining access to their offices, as they also chased away Policemen deployed to do their duties, feelers from across the state indicated that the reinstatement directives were well carried out.
“Across Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ibarapa and most parts of Ibadan geopolitical zones of the state, those elected those administer the affairs of local government councils and local council development areas have resumed work and we expect them to hit the ground running since much is expected from them by those who elected and handed them a three-year mandate on May 12, 2018.
“We are aware of the agitation for a redress on the eight months of their mandate taken away by the PDP government with its sack order and illegal appointment of caretaker chairmen in their place but we can assure them that this would be addressed in due course by the Judiciary which we believe, as a Progressive Party, remains the last hope of the common man.
“Therefore, we are using this opportunity to appeal for calm as we call for dialogue with Gov. Makinde on how he could work with the reinstated officials for the overall benefits of the good people of the state. We urge security agencies to forestall further attacks against our party faithful across the state by the PDP thugs while efforts are being made to prosecute those behind maiming of innocent people in parts of Ibadan on Monday and Tuesday.” APC stated.
