Dissolution rumours: Ekiti LG chairmen commend Fayemi

CHAIRMEN of the 16 local government areas in Ekiti State have commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for his prompt denial of the dissolution of the councils, saying “he had done the needful by debunking the rumour.”

THE council chairmen, in a statement signed on their behalf by the chairman of Association of Local Governments (ALGON) in the State, Mr Dapo Olagunju, said they gave kudos to the governor, saying “the governor himself, as a product of the constitution of Nigeria, is expected to act in protection of the constitution at all times.”

The rumour of the dissolution of the councils, elected in December last year, by Governor Fayemi had been rife in the State since his inauguration on October 16 this year.

Last Saturday, the news that the councils, as well as boards of agencies, had been dissolved by the was all over the social media, but the news had no credible source.

But the state government, through a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, on Saturday denied the dissolution of the councils, saying “the misleading report is a mere fabrication.”

Oyebode said: “The general public is hereby urged to disregard it in its entirety as it does not represent the true position of things regarding local government councils in Ekiti State.

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“Government considers it necessary to state emphatically that it has not taken any such action.”

Reacting to the dissolution rumour and the government position, Ekiti council chairmen said they were ‘not moved’ by the development, saying “consequent upon the Supreme Court judgment of 2016, that voided laws enacted by the states’ Houses of Assembly permitting governors to sack elected Chairmen of Local Governments and Councillors, it is sure that Governor Fayemi will not do anything against the constitution that he swore to uphold.

“It is therefore worthy of commendation that the governor acted in defence of the constitution by promptly debunking the rumour and we wish to restate our position to work harmoniously with the Fayemi-led State government in the interest of Ekiti and its people.

“As constitutionally elected council chairmen, our priority is the progress and development of our respective council areas and we will collaborate with the State government, our political difference notwithstanding.

“We have constitutionally guaranteed tenure of office just like governors and other elected officeholders and what is important to us now is the fulfilment of our promises to the electorate.

“We, therefore, wish to state that we will collaborate effectively with the Dr Kayode Fayemi led State government in the overall interest of Ekiti people.”