Newly-appointed LG boss, aspirants disagree in Osun over tenure of office

The aspirants for chairmanship and councillorship positions in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State have kicked against the reappointment of Mr Hakeem Tokede, the immediate past council chairman, as the incoming chairman after serving two terms in office.

They opposed his being sworn in again and charged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to right the wrong.

However, reacting to the development, Mr Tokede dismissed their complaints, saying he was not the only one that was reappointed among those who had served their various local government areas in the past.

But speaking with journalists, Dr.Felix Faniran, who spoke on behalf of all the chairmanship aspirants in ward 1, 2 and 3 in Otan Ayegbaju, expressed their disappointed on the reappointment of Tokede, saying his appointment would further tear the party apart.

Faniran also accused a lawmaker for singlehandedly imposing Tokede on the people of the local government.

“At this juncture, it may not be out of place to re-emphasise the fact that a lot of people in Boluwaduro Local Government Area are not pleased with the return of Mr Akeem Tokede that was announced for Otan Ayegbaju of Boluwaduro Local Government.

“That the processes employed are very undemocratic, unrepresented and unfair.

“That for about four years he earlier spent, he did not allow or organise any party meeting at the local level, which has seriously destroyed the party.

The aspirants, under the aegis of Forum of Political Office Aspirants, in a petition to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State dated 7th July, urged the leadership of the party not to re-appoint him and any of the immediate past councillors to their last held positions.

The petition jointly signed by Dr Felix Faniran, Comrade Boniface Adeyemi and Esther Alani, stated that “Despite our suggestions, we noted that the state government and the party leadership seem to ignore us and our advice, as the immediate past chairman was returned as chairman, caretaker management committee, thus paving the way for Tokede to be sworn in for the third term as local government chairman.

The letter which was copied to the House of Assembly, noted that the swearing-in of Tokede should be put on hold pending the final determination of the matter

However, reacting to the development, Tokede said that those who did not want him reappointed are the minority in the locality’

He added that he was not the only one that was reappointed among those who had served their various local councils n the past.

“Moreso, the task ahead now is on appointment and not on an elective position,” he added.