Less than two weeks in office, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the suspension of all 18 caretaker chairmen of the local government areas and 33 local council development areas of the state with immediate effect.
The announcement for the suspension of LGAs/LCDAs was contained in a letter signed by Alonge Adewale of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs asking the suspended Caretaker Chairmen to submit all assets and property of the LGAs/LCDAs.
Consequently, the letter directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as heads of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in an acting capacity.
The letter reads in part: “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.”
The suspension of the caretaker chairmen indicated that the directive would exist until the determination of the court case.
Recall that an Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi had granted an interim injunction filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to restrain late governor Oluwarotimi 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 LCDA pending the determination of the interlocutory junction in the suit.
Justice Fasanmi therefore barred the caretaker chairmen from operating after they resumed office because they had been sworn in before the order was granted.
