The tougher the battle, the sweeter is always the victory.
Since the first major illegal step taken by the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to dissolve the elected local government administration in the state less than 24h hours after his swearing in, the government has ever since perched on a tight rope like the proverbial bird. And in order to survive and wriggle out of its self inflicted trap, Gov. Makinde administration , in the past one year, has been wobbling and fumbling from one illegality to another, denial, acceptance, lies and blackmail to survive. All subsequent faulty and desperate steps taken in a futile attempt to cover its initial unconstitutional assault on democracy and rule of law at the grassroots level of government
ALGON, Oyo State was mindful and well prepared since the assault on elected local government by the governor was launched that the journey to democracy and our mandate freely given by the people may be long, but definitely, victory would come at last because when law is breached, law protects itself through the court of law.
Struggle to defend democracy is not a buffet
The objective of our legal and political battle against lawlessness of the state government is to preserve grassroots democracy, defend the rights of the people to freely choose their leaders, good governance at the local government level, because Nigeria is not a jungle country where might and not law is the rule of engagement in inter-government relations. Democracy thrives on the principle of rule of law and separation of power.
Section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution provides that: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law.
Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution vests on the legislature at the federal and state levels the power to create Local Government. The essence of Local Government creation is for effective administration of the grassroots.
Perhaps, for his inexperience in constitutional democracy, or fresh gubernatorial excitement, arrogant abuse of power or being misled or a combination of all, Gov. Makinde decided to trample on the constitution he publicly swore to uphold and defend less than 24 hours he assumed office by illegally dissolving the popularly elected 33 local council and 38 development areas.
This illegality, absurdity and ludicrousness defined his government from the onset till today.
But Instead of being sober and quickly revert itself, the state government went on a lying spree to muddle a clear cut case in order to confuse the public, but time and revealing facts have exposed the insincerity of government and put it to shame and public opprobrum in the past one year.
Their lies, our facts.
First, Engr. Seyi Makinde led government claimed that there was no election because the local government election that brought the elected administration to office was conducted against a court injunction. When they were confronted with the fact, which they knew but pretended not to know, that the court order was vacated before the election, they went blank in shame.
Secondly, they lied that there was no perpetual injunction judgement restraining the governor and the state
House of Assembly from dissolving elected local government administration. But when the judgment procured were literally smashed on their faces, they rushed to court and appealed against the judgment which they claimed was procured from a, Kangaroo Court’.
When they felt the weight of our facts and evidences filed in court, they hurriedly opted for an out of court settlement as a gimmick to waste the time of the court. After their out of court settlement failed because what the government wanted was to pay off elected chairmen and councilors which ALGON rejected outright because our resistance to illegality was not for our personal sake but to defend democracy. To us in ALGON, we perceived monetization of injustice and lawlessness as corruption.
After the failed monetization of illegality, the governor and his town criers went to town with uncoordinated spurious allegation of corruption against elected chairmen with each of the accusers throwing around different figures that caught their fancy. Till today, not a single valid fact was established beyond the press releases from the governor’s office.
The Systemic Looting of Local Government Fund by State Government.
Recently, Governor Makinde again alleged that he dissolved elected local government administration because of corruption. And in his imagination, over N10bn had been saved since a year ago when he illegally dissolved the council. The governor lied. He did not only lie on the allegation against ALGON, but on the accumulated local fund which he deliberately under disclosed for inherent corruption purpose.
The governor claimed that the LG account now has a combined total of N12billion balance. That was a lie, he was only trying to play smart.
All the 33 LG and 35 LCDAs can never have such meagre balance in the account even if we didnt leave any money in JAAC in May 2019.
Local government allocation from April 2019 FAAC to February 2020 FAAC was N42. 6 billion excluding VAT and ECA totalling N15.7bn.
The governor has been claiming that he is borrowing money to pay primary school teachers and LGA staff salaries, how come he is claiming N12billion? The N12bn tale is better told to the marine.
We hereby call on the EFCC and ICPC to investigate Oyo State local government fund allocation and how the governor and his illegal local government caretaker committees have been fiddling with the local council fund.
The stage of our case.
Judgment in the appeal filed by the state government against the subsisting court order perpetually restraining the governor, House of Assembly or anyone from dissolving elected local government will be delivered very soon.
We eagerly look forward to Judgement and Justice in line with the spirits and letters of the subsisting precedent judgment of Supreme Court of Nigeria on a similar case in Ekiti State.
Appreciation.
ALGON appreciates the support, solidarity, prayers, understanding and intervention of all discerning people, particularly the grassroots during the year’s legal and political peaceful battle to save democracy and ensure rule of law in Oyo State.
Our special acknowledgement to the progressive, balanced and non partisan media practitioners and outfits that have stood firm to give us opportunity to air our views and positions despite being out of office by force and illegally due to the unconstitutional act of the governor.
To all, we are very grateful as we look forward to sustained relationship all sides.
Signed
Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye
ALGON Chairman
Oyo State