Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has indefinitely suspended the sworn-in caretaker chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas and the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The suspension of the caretaker committee follows a court order, LEADERSHIP gathered.
An Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi recently granted an interim injunction filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), restraining the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from inaugurating any person or persons not democratically elected as members of caretaker committees to administer the affairs of the LGAs and the LCDA, pending the determination of the interlocutory injunction in this suit.
Justice Fasanmi’s injunction also barred the caretaker chairmen from operating after they had resumed office, citing that they had been sworn in before the order was granted.
However, Governor Aiyedatiwa, through a letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by Alonge Adewale on Wednesday, suspended all the caretaker chairmen indefinitely.
The letter read, “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 governor’s directive also included the requirement that the suspended caretaker chairmen submit, without delay, all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs.
Speaking on the matter, one of the affected caretaker chairmen, who chose not to be named, expressed determination to pursue the matter to the Supreme Court. He questioned the governor’s decision to dissolve their positions after securing a stay of execution against the court order, stressing that they would seek justice in the matter.
