Oyo State: We want LG elections, not caretaker c’ttees – Gov Makinde

Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, has said that he would conduct local government elections next year, dismissing insinuations that caretaker committee chairmen would be appointed to replace sacked council heads.

He also said Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, would be reformed to have a generally accepted exercise.

Makinde, who said these in a chat with newsmen, vowed that he would only lift the ban on National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, if it expresses willingness to quit engaging in violent clashes.
His words: “We will conduct local government election in the first quarter of next year. We will not contravene the laws in the election we plan to do. It is the opposition that is scared about the election. The matter of sacking the chairmen is now before the court so I will not be able to say a lot about that. We are ready to comply with any court judgment on the matter.

“The court asked them not to proceed with the election but they got another judgment to vacate the previous judgment. We have seen so many infractions and they know. But, I am also concerned about the fact that the constitution recognises 33 local government areas.

Elections in 33 LGAs
“The issue of creating 35 Local Council Development areas, LCDAs, is still in court. Despite the fact that the case was still in court, they proceeded with the election. You can create LCDAs for development to get to the grassroots but you have to abide by the constitution. You can hold an election in 33 local government areas but can only appoint to the 35 LCDAs.

I initially agreed with the concept of LCDA but we considered that that was what we met on ground and that it will bring government closer to the grassroots. But most LCDA chairmen do not go to office daily. They just wait for money to be disbursed and share it. They only return when another money is to be shared. You conducted an election for chairmen and councillors but did not swear them in.

After losing the governorship election, a year after conducting the local government election, you decided to inaugurate them and constituted the All Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON. Who does that mean? I will abide by any court judgment. The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) would be reformed. We would appoint people of impeccable character, not those who write results.’’