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There is a palpable fear that has gripped workers in the local government areas(LGs) and local council development areas(LCDAs) across Oyo State, following a directive by the Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ( ALGON) , Oyo State chapter, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, asking the sacked council bosses to take over the affairs of the councils today.
The directive, it was learnt, was sequel to the move by the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to appoint caretaker chairmen into the local governments and LCDAs in the state, despite a subsisting court orders.
The workers at the 33 LGs and 35 LCDAs were said to be disturbed over the safety of lives and properties, with a possible clash between the loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government and the opposition All Progressives Congress(APC).
Both the sacked council chairmen under the association and the state governor have been at loggerheads over the controversial removal of the council bosses by the governor.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, on Monday read the names of all the caretaker nominees before the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, while also directing the committee to submit its report on Wednesday for consideration and possible approval by the lawmakers.
However, a statement made available to newsmen by Abass-Aleshinloye, said the directive was reached after the general and emergency meeting of the association held at its Secretariat in Ibadan.
The statement reads: “Having explored all the legal means and following what the Supreme Court says in respect of the inability of either the state governor or the state House of Assembly to dissolve the democratically elected Local Government Chairmen and Councilors, we hereby direct that all the local government chairmen and councilors that are democratically elected resume to their duty post and respective offices, tomorrow Wednesday 18th December, 2019.
“Any caretaker, who is poised to forcefully take over their right of place should not be given chance.
“No one should entertain any form of fears as all the security agents who have the mandate to protect lives and properties are have been informed.”