BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has issued five-point admonitions to newly appointed local government caretaker chairmen, directing them to compete through developmental initiatives for their various areas.
Inaugurating the chairpersons in Osogbo on Wednesday, Adeleke who justified his action on the need to fill an existing vacuum at the local level asked the chairmen to be prudent and should not use their positions to marry more wives.
The governor said his government has kick-started a process that will produce democratically elected local government system in the nearest future.
He reminded the public that his administration came on board at a time of constitutional crisis at the local government level, noting that “The previous government had grossly violated the constitution and the law by holding Kangaroo local government elections after its defeat.
“Rather than complying with the specific provisions of the law, my predecessor ordered a sham election, creating legal conflict and wastage of billions of taxpayers’ money.
“Our administration adopted legal routes to dismantle the inherited illegality. And as a government committed to upholding the constitution, we have mapped out a sustainable process that will fully restore normalcy to the local government system,” he affirmed.
Governor Adeleke had appointed the caretaker committees for Local Government Council Areas, Local Government Development Areas and the Area Office in Osun State after securing approval of the State House of Assembly.
The governor had written to the Speaker, seeking approval for the appointment of the Caretaker committees, according to a statement signed by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Tuesday night.
At the inauguration, the Governor charged the new chairmen on five areas, saying the mandate they have is to compete in the arena of grassroots programmes and projects that positively affect the people.
Addressing the council leaders, the governor said, “As you are taking office today, you are to take note of the following:
“You and your team must fashion out a local copy of the five-point agenda for implementation in your local government. This will help to deepen the reach and touch of our administration across the state;
“You can also make a difference by developing local development plans for your local areas. This will help to take care of your local peculiarities;
“Your leadership must remain closely in touch with the people. You must ensure inclusive government that carry along people from voting units to ward and local government areas;
“Intergovernmental Relations is also critical. You are not an island on your own, so you must be attentive to demands of coordination with the state and national bodies;
“Very important is the issue of financial discipline. This is not the time to marry a second or third wife. This is a time of financial prudence. Anyone found engaging in corrupt practices will be severely sanctioned,” the governor noted.
Responding on behalf of others, Sarafa Awotunde, chairman for Ifelodun Local Government, promised to focus on grassroots development in line with the five-point agenda of the governor.
