By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Director of Personnel Management (DPMs) across the 16 local
governments have officially taken over the mantle of leadership at
various councils across the state, National Pilot reliably gathered,
last night.
Following the suspension of the 16 local government chairmen last
week, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq directed them to hand over to
the DPMs pending the outcome of the investigation of allegation of
fraud and misappropriation of fund to the tune of over N38bn from
federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
According to the Governor through a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary (CPS), Rafiu Ajakaye, the suspension will last for six
months before the council bosses would either be returned to the
office or removed depending on the outcome of investigation.
But last week, the council chairmen dared the Governor and vowed to
continue to remain and operate in office as subsisting elected council
Chairmen until the expiration of their tenure in 2020.
They maintained that Governor Abdulrazaq and the state House of
Assembly lacked the powers to dissolve the council under the law
maintaining that they were democratically elected into office by the
people.
While rejecting the suspension, ALGON Chairman, Adekanye Joshua who
was flanked by other 15 council chairmen, at a press conference held
in Ilorin, described the governor and the legislators’ action as”
unconstitutional, null and void and abuse of office.”
He said rather than claiming to suspend them, the Governor should obey
the subsisting judgement of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin,
delivered on 13th June, 2019 in suit No. KWS/115/2019 between Hajia
Risikat Opakunle and 15 others Vs. Governor of Kwara State & 2 others
which also barred the defendants from freeze the bank accounts of the
16 councils.
“We therefore want to state categorically that we remain the
authentic and legitimate local government chairmen for the 16 council
areas in Kwara State, the action of the governor and the House of
Assembly cannot stand in the face of the constitution and subsisting
judgement of the state High Court.
Also, in order to enforce the subsisting judgement, the council bosses
through the Chambers of Wahab Bamidele & Co last week filed contempt
of proceedings against the Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner
for Justice as well as the House of Assembly.
They said the court of law must compel the trio to respect court
judgement and also avoid the breakdown of law and order.
But last night, one of the affected council chairmen confided in this
reporter that contrary to the picture of a stalemate that was being
painted, the council bosses has tactically handed over and surrendered
the reign of power to the DPMs.
The chairman who hails from Kwara South said there is no grandstanding
over the issue.
“We have handed over in the true sense of the word and without being
deceitful. Once the civil servants refused to bring file to you and
you are around, what is the essence of you being in the office.
“Anybody that has not handed over the vehicle in his possession is
doing that on his own volition.
“Although, we know that this is executive rascality which most
governors across the country are guilty of despite the existing
Supreme Court judgement on the issue which favours the council
chairmen.
“And what also seemed to have compound the issue is that even when you
look at some other states that are also affected where the Peoples
Democratic Party won, they did worst beyond suspension like in Oyo,
Zamfara and especially Imo”, the source added.
