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The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria(ALGON), Oyo State chapter, on Sunday allayed the fears of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the people of the state, who are panicking that there would be crisis in all the local governments and local council development areas when they return to office.
It would be recalled that the executives of NULGE in the state on Saturday asked its members to stay away from their duty post pending the time the controversy surrounding the administration of local government in the state are resolved . NULGE had cited security reasons for its decision to ask its members to stay away from work.
But ALGON in a statement signed by its chairman, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, said the people of the state should not panick, adding that the police and all other security agencies have assured the body of safety of life and property.
He said: “ALGON wishes to allay the fears or any unnecessary anxiety of NULGE, Oyo State, all local government workers and the good people of the state as the democratically elected chairmen and councilors of local government and council areas return peacefully to their duty posts to perform our constitutional duties to the grassroots in obedience to the electoral mandate of the people of Oyo state.
“As a peace loving organisation of responsible people and local government administrators, ALGON has taken the path of law to reclaim our mandate freely given by our people at the grassroots before achieving the well deserved victory after long drawn legal and political battles to defend democracy and the rule of law.
“We also wish to reassure all our people in the pace setter state that there is no cause for alarm as the Police Command as directed by the Inspector General of Police and all other security agencies have assured us all of safety of life and property and are fully on ground to forestall any threat to peace by few disgruntled elements who may want to return our dear state to a theater of violence of yore. Institutions and governments are not established to break the law, but to enforce the law as provided by our laws and court decisions.”
The chairmen reiterated their willingness to work with the state government for the progress, peace and stability of the state, assuring the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde of their resolve to collaborate with him in providing good governance for the people.
Abass-Aleshinloye stated that the chairmen does not have any personal or partisan grudge against the governor, saying “together, we shall make Oyo State greater for the benefit of all.”
He accused the caretaker committees inaugurated by Governor Makinde of hurriedly selling council properties across the state, saying: “We hereby issue a caveat on the panicky auction of local government property by some of the illegal caretaker committees.
“This is to advise the unsuspecting members of the public not to fall victim of any unauthorised panicky sale of council property across the state as being done by the illegal caretaker committees since they were unleashed on the local government.This is a desperate act of looting of council property including vehicles, graders, machines, and other equipment and landed property of the council. Please be cautious and don’t be swindled. Buyers Beware!”.
The ALGON boss thanked everyone who stood firm for ” the defence of democracy, rule of law and grassroots development for their invaluable support.”