PDP kicks as Kwara Gov extends suspension of 16 LGs chairmen by another 6 months

By Mumini Abdulkareem

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last night rejected the continuous suspension of the 16 elected Local Government chairmen in the state even as it called on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to do the right thing.
Governor Abdulrazaq on Tuesday extended the suspension of the council bosses and their legislative committees reportedly undergoing investigation by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The action followed the expiration of their initial six months suspension earlier handed them by the Governor after a resolution of the House of Assembly on the matter recommending their suspension over alleged misappropriation.
Despite the plea for political solution by the chairmen, the state government has reportedly sanctioned their investigation and accused of using the anti-graft agency to force the embattled chairmen to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This medium, reliably gathered from a source that their formal defection to the APC is “imminent” adding that most of them have already joined the AA Support Group.
But according to the Kwara State Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Kola Shittu in a telephone chat with National Pilot, last night, the latest action of the Governor is unconstitutional and against the rule of law in the country.
Shittu said: “It’s unconstitutional and the Supreme Court has made pronouncement on it few days ago. It is not in the purview of the Governor or any state House of Assembly to suspend or remove the council chairmen. This is not debatable and it is against the rule of law, the constitution and local government law.
“We appeal to the Governor in his wisdom and position; he should intervene and ensure that (this anomaly) is corrected to ensure that the right thing is done”.
Announcing the new development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye in a statement yesterday, quoted the Governor thus:
“In furtherance of the powers conferred on me by the said resolution of the Kwara State House of Assembly of 18th June 2019, I, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Governor of Kwara State, hereby extend the suspension of the executive and legislative committees of all the 16 Local Government Areas for another six months with effect from 18th December, 2019, pending the outcome of the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” according to a legal instrument signed by the Governor.
“The report of the state House of Assembly indicting the executive and legislative committees of the local government areas for misappropriation of public funds has been sent to the EFCC for necessary action and possible prosecution,” the instrument added.
“The members of the executive and legislative committees of the 16 local government areas are currently under investigations by the EFCC”, the statement added.