Irepo LG indigenes contact lawyer, warn council boss against anti-financial autonomy stance
Khalid ABRAHAM
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In another dimension, a legal practitioner, Babatunde Jinadu, principal partner at Babatunde Jinadu & Co (Oluyolade Chamber) has been contracted by concerned citizens of Irepo local government area of Oyo state, whose headquarters is at Kisi, Oke-Ogun area, to write a warning letter to the chairman of the local government, T.T. Olayiwola, to desist from the move to align with council bosses in the state to pull out of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) seen as a ploy to sidetrack the fiscal autonomy recently granted local governments by the Supreme Court.
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ogbomosoinsightonline.com recalls the Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, condemned the ruling going ahead to set up a review committee for it. Subsequently, the Oyo state chapter of ALGON in solidarity said the chapter is pulling out of ALGON hoping it can outwit the ruling by the subterfuge and continue the infamous joint account regime, many believe impoverishes the grassroots.
Oyo state indigenes have been expressing opposition to the stance of the governor and the 33 council chairmen with different communities under the banners of concerned indigenes issuing letters admonishing and warning their respective council bosses to back out.
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Jumping into the fray, the concerned indigenes of Irepo local government, in a letter addressed to their council chairman, Hon. Tunde Taoheed Olayiwola, through their solicitor, have also staunchly opposed the decision positing local government autonomy would ramp up development at the council area.
They urged him to rather make the development of the council area his priority which they averred is guaranteed under fiscal autonomy while restating opposition to joint account with the state.
“I, the principal of the above law office on behalf of the entire concerned citizens of Irepo Local Government, Kisi, is hereby writing to express our strong opposition to the decision of the Oyo State Local Governments to opt out of the full autonomy granted by the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the letter says.
“We urge you sir not to participate in this decision, as it goes against the spirit of decentralization and autonomy that our local government deserves, because maintaining the status quo will only perpetuate dependence and undermine the development of our local government.
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“We therefore believe that autonomy will bring about improved governance, accountability, and effective utilization of resources. It will also enable our local government to address peculiar challenges and harness local opportunities.
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“We appeal to you to prioritize the interest of our local government and its people. We say no to the use of the state account and demand that our local government be allowed to manage its own affairs.”
