Anxiety, Agitations Over Caretaker Appointments For Osun LGs, LCDAs

 

By Solomon Odeniyi

THERE are indications that local government elections will no longer hold anytime soon this year in the State of Osun.

This is just as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state are confused on the method of administration that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola might adopt after the expiration of current council chairmen and councillors. 

The tenure of the current local government council members, elected on January 27, 2018, will come to an end on February 5.

However, it is clear that Governor Oyetola would go ahead with the planned appointment of caretaker management members for each of the local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state.

Though, there had been insinuations that the governor wanted to consider the appointment of Council Managers, to avoid possible crisis that might greet the appointment of caretaker management committees. 

But unfolding events within the APC have shown that the appointment of the caretaker members is real and would be done any moment, a development that is generating lots of anxiety and agitations among members of the party.

Leaders of the APC in some of the local governments have been mounting pressure on Oyetola to respect zoning and distribution of political offices in their various areas.

The APC leadership in the state had last week directed the party’s leaders in each of the 332 wards to submit three candidates as nominees for possible appointment into membership of the caretaker committees in their various local governments.

However, findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the three names were strictly for consideration for membership of the caretaker committees, while the Governor, would appoint the chairmen.

It was also gathered that only one person would be appointed out of the three candidates per ward submitted by the party.

According to credible sources, the governor’s kitchen cabinet has compiled the list of chairmanship candidates to be appointed in each of the local government councils.

Besides, almost all the incumbent local government council chairmen have been lobbying the party leadership to retain their seats, even as some APC chieftains are reportedly working against their return on the ground that others should be given opportunity too.

However, members of the Oyetola kitchen cabinet are said to be poised on ensuring that the caretaker management members in each of the local government councils are populated with those that have shown and proven their loyalty to the Governor.

Information also has it that some of the current chairmen might be returned for a six-month caretaker term.

The medium also learnt that members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) might be considered for membership into caretaker committees of some local government councils and LCDAs.  

The proposed caretaker management is expected to have nine members, comprising a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and six members, for each of the councils. 

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the State of Osun, Mr. Sola Oladehinde, said the party is in total support of the proposed caretaker arrangement, just as he expressed confidence that members of the party would be considered in the appointment.

According to Oladehinde, the coalition between the APC and SDP is still intact, adding that both parties are working hand-in-hand for the progress of the state.

He said: “We are in support of the governor on the proposed caretaker appointment.  The SDP is in coalition with the APC government and we are expected to be considered in the caretaker appointments.”

But the Peoples Democratic Party is opposing the caretaker modality, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

Embattled Chairman of the PDP in the state, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, in a telephone interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said what the law says is to have elected representatives for the administration of the local governments.

He said: “A situation where we are appointing caretaker for the local government under the whims and caprices of the Governor and they are using the House of Assembly to do that is not fair for democracy. Democracy stipulates that it is elected people that are supposed to run government, either at local, state, or federal levels. Our stand is that the Governor should go and conduct elections. We will challenge the caretaker appointment legally.”

However, the APC has assured the people of the state of continuous growth and development at the grassroots, just as it reassured its members of fairness in the caretaker appointments.

Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi in an interview with the medium yesterday stated that the appointments into the caretaker committees of LGAs and LCDAs are not out of place, describing the PDP’s position as delusive. 

Oyatomi said: “We are not there yet. Our members know that APC is disciplined and law-abiding. We cannot do anything that will affect them in any form. The PDP is a busy body.  It should mind its business.”