OGUN COUNCILLORS PROTEST ASSEMBLY SUSPENSION RESOLUTION

The lawmakers carried placards with some of the inscriptions which reads: ‘The lawmakers are the lawebrakers’, ‘Respect Supreme court on local government tenure’, ‘OGHA led by Rt. Hon Suraj Adekunbi, don’t rubbish Dapo Abiodun’s administration through your selfishness’, amongst others.

Penpushing further reports that, when the Speaker of the House,   Suraj   Adekunbi suddenly appeared in the complex the protesting local government lawmakers charged at his convoy raining abuses at him for presiding over their suspension.

The Speaker however, in his response declared to the protesters on the need   to find a better way to address their agitations, stressing that insulting was not a solution for what they came for.

However, leader of the protesters, Azeez Oloyede from Abeokuta South East Local Council Development Authority in his response to the speaker said they were surprised at his position at a time when the issue of local government autonomy was being addressed.

Speaking further, on financial allegation, Azeez told the Speaker that they have not received any correspondence to the effect of any allegation against the administration of the local government before their sack from office, explaining that they disregarded the rumour, since no letter has been addressed to them.

Penpushing also reports that, he said it was shocking following attack by career officers at the local government governments when attempts were made to resume their offices.

His words “We heard the rumour that we are suspended, why is it that when the issue of local government autonomy is being addressed is when you’re suspending us from office?

“Till this moment there’s no allegation against us and before we can be suspended is there any allegation against us? Not at all. We don’t even believe that because up till now, we have not received any letter to that effect and when we get to our various offices, we are being harassed by local government workers and career officers”

“As far as we are concerned, there’s nothing like suspension. What is our offence that warrants this kind of rumour that we, the legislators and Chairmen, are suspended?”

Penpushing also reports that, the Speaker while speaking with journalists said he was surprised to see the protesters at the Assembly complex since they have not received any correspondence to the effect of their suspension, declaring that the Assembly acted within its power.

The Speaker asked the protesting Councilors to wait for communication from the Executive Arm of the Government, emphasising that the Assembly had received a lot of petitions against the administration of local governments in the state and that he had brought same unofficially to the notice of the Chairmen.

Penpushing reports that, Adekunbi also reacted to question raised on why the petitions were not investigated before the suspension, stating that it doesn’t matter which one comes first, arguing that the development was as a result of exigencies and that the suspension was thoroughly debated by the members of the House before the decision was taken.

It is recalled that Ogun State House of Assembly had, last week, passed a resolution suspending and inviting all the local governments’ officials in the state over allegation of financial misappropriation by the officials.

Penpushing further reports that, in similar vein, the Executive Arm of the Government subsequently ordered the freezing of accounts of the local government pending the conclusion of the investigation by the House of Assembly.