Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has issued an indefinite suspension to the sworn-in caretaker chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas and the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs)
An Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi, recently granted an interim injunction filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This injunction restrains the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from inaugurating any individuals not democratically elected as members of caretaker committees to administer the affairs of the LGAs and the LCDA, pending the determination of the interlocutory injunction in this suit
Justice Fasanmi’s injunction also prohibited the caretaker chairmen from operating, stating that they had assumed their roles before the order was granted.
However, Governor Aiyedatiwa, through a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs signed by Alonge Adewale, indefinitely suspended all the caretaker chairmen
The letter read, “It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAS) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state by a Court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts.
“Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in acting capacity pending the resolution of all legal matters relating to this subject.”
The governor’s directive also mandated the suspended caretaker chairmen to promptly submit all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs without delay.
Speaking on the issue, one of the affected caretaker chairmen, who chose to remain anonymous, conveyed a strong determination to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. They questioned the governor’s choice to dissolve their positions despite obtaining a stay of execution against the court order, emphasizing their pursuit of justice in this situation.
Kanyi Daily recalls that the acting governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had been inaugurated as the 7th substantive Governor of Ondo State.