LG Autonomy: “Comply With Supreme Court Ruling, Adeduntan Admonishes Makinde
..threatens to take legal action against any erring local government chairman
The Osi Bashorun Of Ibadanland and 2023 Guber Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress in Oyo State ,-PRINCE (DR) Azeez Popoola Adeduntan has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the judiciary on the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court on local government financial autonomy .
Adeduntan, a screened and cleared guber Aspirant during the last year governorship primary of Oyo State APC in a release through his media office in Ibadan today expressed satisfaction in the ruling which according to him will make local government more effective and functional.
He added that the ruling will also impact positively on the people at the Grassroot ;as it remains the third tier of governance ,which is the closest to the grassroots and the man on the street ,for basic functions such as infrastructure, security,
primary education among others.
The world revered cardio vascular surgeon then called on the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde to immediately comply with the order of the highest court in the land without any stalling, prevarication, dilatory tactics and stonewalling.
Osi Bashorun Adeduntan added that It is on record that GOVERNOR MAKINDE had held the local GOVERNMENT administration in OYO state by the “jugular “since he came on board in 2019 first by dissolving a well constituted and elected local GOVERNMENT administration, and despite losing at the Supreme Court ,held the salaries of local GOVERNMENT Staff for several months until recently.
“It is the same kind of executive rascality ,that GOVENOR MAKINDE is displaying presently by castigating and disparaging the Supreme Court judgment as a “distraction”.
” If GOVERNOR MAKINDE does not know that Supreme courts verdict are final ,all over the world, I hereby refer him to the eternal statement of ROBERT H JACKSON in 1953 -an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the USA ,reproduced here below as if set verbatim .
“.We are final, not because we are infallible,but because we are final “
Adeduntan said the quote emphasizes the role of the Supreme Court as the ultimate authority in interpreting the law.
“The above is without prejudice to MAKINDE ‘S PUERILE POSITION that local GOVERNMENTS are not federating units but only the state and the central authorities.
“As tax payers in OYO state
If we don’t see improvement in local GOVERNMENT administration, in the near future,my team and I will institute a legal ACTION against any local GOVERNMENT that is not performing their core functions such as roads reconstruction and repairs, security, infrastructures and others as Local GOVERNMENT functions and duties have collapsed under GOVERNOR MAKINDE.
“Silence IS NO LONGER GOLDEN ,in this setting but ACTIONS by well meaning OYO state citizens ;especially TAX PAYERS with virtually impassable local roads in all the 33 LGA in OYO STATE.
“May GOD BLESS OYO STATE and the Federal REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, the statement concluded.