LG will be autonomous under my administration, says Abiodun

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has assured that local government under his watch will be made autonomous for it to perform its constitutional responsibilities as the closest government to the grassroot.

He gave the assurance shortly after casting his vote at Ward 3,Unit 002, Ita Osanyin, Iperu, in Ikenne Local Government Area,on Saturday, during elections into the 20 local government areas in the state, that his government would continue to give the council areas free hand to operate.

Abiodun, who arrived at the polling station at about 11.43a.m, said reports at his disposal across the state indicated that the whole exercise has been peaceful.

He said his administration view the election as a referendum of acceptability, performance as well as a means to enable the people see how methodical, focused and responsible his government has been in meeting the people’s needs, adding that he has kept faith with by fulfilling his promises.

“What currently obtained in the state is that the local governments are independent because we give them free hand to operate.

“We will respect the autonomy of the local government. They are the  third tiers of government. Much closer to the people. Our administration will give all the necessary support to them to ensure that they carry out their constitutional responsibilities in line with the resolutions of the Southern Governors Forum.

“Everything is going on well. The election is peaceful, no disruption, no violence. People are going about their civil duties responsibly,” he said.

The governor denied knowledge of boycott by some political parties, saying the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), has done the needful by recognising the legitimate faction of the factionalized party.

“What I was made to understand was that the party that was not recognised headed to the court and the case wasn’t brought until Thursday and from what I understand, the court dismissed the suit that was challenging the OGSIEC accepting the other faction and Following that, I think perhaps to safe face, the faction that lost out now decided to perhaps support a boycott.

“You cannot be boycotting an election that you are not a participant in it. I really don’t understand that, but really, am not a lawyer, am not OGSIEC, am not speaking on behalf of any party, I can only speak on behalf of my party and my administration”, Abiodun stressed.

Governor Abiodun lauded the electoral empire for  being transparent and providing a level playing ground for all political parties in the election, calling on those who would be victorious to be magnanimous and embrace those who lose out on the election.

“I believe OGSIEC has done everything within their power, their mandate to be very transparent and to ensure that the playing field is as level as it should  be for every single party that expressed desire to be part of this elections.

Low turnout

However, there was low turnout of voters’ in some polling units monitored by Sunday Tribune, while there was massive turnout in some areas.

Speaking with OGSIEC chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, while monitoring the exercise in Wards 11, Polling Unit 19, Sodeke, Isale- Ijeun , and Ward 12, Polling Unit 015, Ibara, all in Abeokuta South Local Government, commended the people for the large turn out.

“The turnout for the election is quite encouraging, and because of the large turnout, we have extended the end of voting from 2:00 pm to 3:00pm, in order not to disenfranchise anyone”, Osibodu said.

A member of Civil Society Organization Dr. Abdullahi Muhammad Jabi, who monitored the election, in an interview also said that there was low turn out of voters.

He said, “For the areas we have covered so far, it has been peaceful but there seems to be apathy, you gave a polling unit or a ward of almost 1,000 registered voters and as of the time we visited there, only about 10 had been accredited and voted, that is to say that the turn out was very, very low, but that does not foreclose that they may not come. As at the time we were capturing them, the turn out was very low.

“The security arrangement so far has been solid, all the areas that we have visited, the police, NDLEA, NSCDC are all presence there, it has been peaceful.”

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