Aiyedatiwa to Ondo LG Chairmen: Obey Court Order, Vacate Seats

The Ondo State government has directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in the 18 local government areas of the state to retrieve the property of the councils in the possession of suspended caretaker chairmen of the local government councils and the local council development areas.

An Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, had earlier stopped the inauguration of 18 caretaker chairmen as well as the 33 chairmen of the newly-created LCDAs.

Sequel to the court’s order, the concerned persons were stopped from performing their responsibilities in their respective offices.

It was gathered that the suspended caretakers committee chairmen were nominated by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who also sent their list to the state House of Assembly for screening and approval.

But the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party approached the court to seek an order to restrain the inauguration of the nominees.

To this end, in a circular from the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs made available on Wednesday, the government frowned at the refusal of some of the suspended chairmen to vacate the office despite the court order.

The circular was signed by Alonge Adewale for the permanent secretary of the ministry.

It was titled, ‘Re: Indefinite suspension of the appointment of caretaker committees of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in Ondo State.’

The circular 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 and Local Council Development Areas 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 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.

“Furthermore, I have also been asked to request all HOLGAs to retrieve without delay, all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs with these former Caretaker Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and other members and to safely keep them within their respective Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.

“Kindly give the content of this letter the urgent attention it deserves, please.”

Aiyedatiwa was on Wednesday, December 27 sworn in as the substantive governor of the state following Akeredolu’s death earlier in the day.

Akeredolu, aged 67, died while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer in a German hospital.