Lucky Aiyedatiwa Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has taken the first step to test his political sagacity in the politics of Ondo State. This is linkable to a decision taken by his administration to suspend Chairmen of all the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the state.
Recall that The Round Table reported that immediately after the death of Ondo State former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was sworn in, and days after his inauguration, he proceeded to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after he paid a condolence visit to the family of Akeredolu in Ibadan. The Round Table reported that Aiyedatiwa discussed his Governorship ambition with President Bola Tinubu who told him to go home and put the party together first.
Today, a letter signed by one Alonge Adewale of the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, stated that all the chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas have been suspended.
The suspended chairmen are directed to hand over all properties belonging to
the most senior staff of the local government and the LCDAs.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in the letter, said the Chairmen are suspended until litigation challenging their authenticity is resolved.
The letter read: “It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAS) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State by a Court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts.
“Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in acting capacity pending the resolution of all Legal matters relating to this subject.”
Recall that an Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi had granted an interim injunction filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which sought to restrain late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from inaugurating any person or persons not democratically elected as member(s) of caretaker committees to administer the affairs of the local councils and the LCDAs, pending the determination of the interlocutory injunction in the suit.
Justice Fasanmi later barred the caretaker chairmen from operating after they resumed office on the excuse that they had been sworn in before the order was granted.
If Governor Aiyedatiwa is successful in fulfilling the bidding of the PDP by stopping the appointment of the local government chairmen, it means he has a chance of picking the governorship ticket of PDP in Ondo State, if the ruling party, APC, muscles him out of the Ondo 2024 governorship race.
However, Governor Aiyedatiwa will have to show his political doggedness to manage and win the enmity he may likely face at the grassroots due to the decision taken by his administration less than six months before the governorship election in the state.
The most difficult task ahead of Governor Aiyedatiwa is that he may be unable to appoint his loyalists into the LGAs and LCDAs, as it will go against the court injunction with which he suspended the existing chairmen.
Besides, Governor Aiyedatiwa will have to convince the party executive in the state why he should be supported in 2024 and handed over the ticket of the party if he should be backing the bidding of the opposition party when he is given the [uncommon] constitutional opportunity to lead the state for just nine months.
Category: World-News
Tag: Gov Aiyedatiwa Takes First Major Decision To TestRun His Governorship Ambition
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Published 1/3/2024 9:26:58 PM