Gbenro Adesina
The Oyo State House of Assembly has ordered the sacked Chairmen of the 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas in the state to return government property in their custody to their respective councils.
The Assembly made the order on Thursday July 16, 2020, during a matter of urgent public importance brought before it by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin from Ogbomoso South State Constituency.
The House noted that the demand has become imperative in order to ensure accountability and continuity of governance in the local government administration.
It urged the State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to intervene and ensure all government property movable or unmovable allegedly taken away by the embattled ALGON Chairmen are returned to the various councils.
The House further directed all the Transition Chairmen to take proper inventory of all missing property in their councils and forward the details to the House.
It will be recalled that, a Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan yesterday ruled in favor of the Oyo State Government, declaring that the sacked Chairmen failed to prove their case beyond all reasonable doubts.
The Speaker of the House, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said the property, especially, vehicles allegedly taken away by the sacked Chairmen are government property, which were not acquired by the said persons legally.
According to him, “If it was on record that those property were acquired through auction or other legal means, then the 9th Assembly will not intervene and will not question such action. However, the property were not rightfully acquired by the said chairmen. They can’t continue to keep government property in their possession. That could amount to theft of government property”.
In their comments, Hon Abidoye Bamigboye Oriire and Hon Isiaka Tunde from Orire and Oyo East/Oyo West state constituencies respectively had urged the House not to rule on the motion because the sacked chairmen have made known that they were heading to Supreme Court, arguing that the decision of the House may be tantamount to sub judicial.
However, in their swift reactions, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Mohammed Fadeyi, Hon Francis Adetunji (Oluyole), Hon Olusola Owolabi (Ib North East2) and Hon Adeola Bamidele representing Oluyole, Ibadan North East 2, and Iseyin/Itesiwaju state constituencies respectively countered the prayer.
