LAWMAKERS at the Oyo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, condemned the inauguration of those who did not scale through their screening as caretaker chairmen in the state.
This was as they ordered the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude, to arrest those they described as “fake chairmen” parading themselves as head of their respective local government areas.
Members, in their contributions, frowned on the inauguration of Abiodun Oladeji as chairman, Lagelu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in place of Akeem Aransi, who was screened by the assembly.
They also condemned the inclusion of those they did not screen, Mr Mudashir Agbaje of Irepo Local Government and Adeleke Taiwo of Asabari LCDA, at the inauguration by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The Assembly consequently directed the state police boss to arrest anyone parading himself as chairman of any of Irepo, Asabari or Lagelu West councils.
Honourable Gbenga Oyekola of Atiba state constituency described as mockery of the legislature and the executive, a situation where both Aransi and Oladeji were said to have, on Monday, reported to the headquarters of Lagelu West LCDA, only to have been invited by the police to avert crisis.
He also questioned whether the clerk transmitted its screening report to the executive before the inauguration.
Honourable Wumi Oladeji of Ogbomoso North constituency also took on the speaker of the assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo, for being a party to the swearing-in of those not confirmed by the state assembly.
Honourable Segun Olaleye of Ibadan North II constituency called for investigation into events of the inauguration and sanctions for those who discountenanced the recommendations of the assembly.
In his response, Adeyemo exonerated himself, saying he was not a party to the controversies surrounding the inauguration while the clerk, Mr Paul Bankole, showed the acknowledgement copy of the screening report by the executive.
“I am not in support of what happened. I am not there to support illegality. They administered the oath before my entrance into the executive council chambers and I called their attention to our position that I hope those that we did not clear are not being sworn in and they said those affected persons will be excluded,” the speaker said.
According to him, “anybody parading himself as chairman of the three councils involved should be arrested by the police. The House is yet to screen and confirm caretaker chairmen of Asabari LCDA, Irepo council and Lagelu West LCDA.
“No caretaker chairman that has not been cleared should parade himself as chairman. We cleared Aransi Akeem as chairman of Lagelu West and that is the person to resume and be sworn in, the person not confirmed and sworn in should not parade himself as caretaker chairmen of that local government.”
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