Oyo State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has promised to cooperate and work with the State Government under the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde as the Democratically Elected Local Government Councils Chairmen plan to resume office.
Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye, ALGON Chairman, Oyo State said this on Monday in Ibadan, the State Capital while reacting to the letter the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), sent to the Oyo State Government through the Office of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice calling the attention of Oyo State Government to its illegal and unconstitutional act of dissolving democratically elected local government administration in the state.
The AGF in this letter called for restoration of the democratically elected thrid tier of government in the state that Gov Makinde had illegally replaced with an unconstitutional contraption called “caretaker committee” which is unexpected and therefore unknown to Las and in flagrant disregard of Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
The AGF sited and relied on several subsisting court judgements including Supreme Court which is highest court in the country and which judgement is Law.
Prince Aleshinloye linked the statement from the AGF to the position of ALGON that no governor or House of Assembly has the right to embark on a futile unconstitutional journey to tramp on the law in order to achieve a predetermined illegal act like what Gov. Makinde had done.
Aleshinloye said “This has been our position too in ALGON Oyo State that no governor or House of Assembly has the right to embark on futile unconstitutional journey to tramp on the law in order to achieve a predetermined illegal act like what governor Makinde had one. Democracy survives on the rule of law and strict adherence to democratic tenets. Democracy is sustained by rule of law and not rule or caprice of men. As the erudite late Lord Justice Denning posited: “Be ye never so high, the law is above you”
“In view of the latest positive development that definitely complement our resolute struggle to defend democracy and grassroots governance, we want to assure the governor and the good people of Oyo State that we as elected chairmen of local government and local council development areas are always ready to work with the state government to advance our dear state to greater height as soon as we resume duty .
“His Excellency, Gov. Makinde has nothing to fear since we have no personal grudge against him or any official of his government beyond our principled stand that the constitution, rule of law and Supreme Court judgement which has a national jurisdiction must be obeyed at all times.
“We once again appreciate all our members who are steadfast to defend our democratically given mandate and grassroots democracy. Now that we are resuming, we appeal to our members including councilors to redouble their efforrs in giving their utmost best immediately we resume.”
