Council Manager Escapes Atttack Over Chairmanship Tussle

By Israel Afolabi

The Council Manager of Ede North Area Council, Mrs. Nike Adepoju, on Wednesday was nearly lynched at the premises of Osun House of Assembly complex by protesters over the inauguration of the newly elected councillors for the council.

Adepoju, who was invited for a meeting by the House Committee Chairman on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Wasiu Adebayo based on a petition written against her by aggrieved elected councillors, was saved by pressmen at the assembly,   who whisked her away into an office.

The council manager, while coming out of the meeting held at the parliamentary room of the assembly, was ambushed by protesters, who were apparently not satisfied with the resolution of the lawmakers.

During the meeting, the aggrieved councillors alleged that they were deliberately locked out of the venue of the inauguration, which took place on Feb.  22.

They added that locking them out denied them the opportunity of taking oath of office and also to participate in the selection of Executive Chairman that would lead the team.

They alleged that the council manager acted in connivance with the State Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs, Barr Kolapo Alimi, who was also part of the meeting.

But, Alimi, in his response said that the affected councillors refused to show up for the inauguration, saying that he later ordered the council manager to proceed with the inauguration since they were duly informed.

Speaking earlier at the meeting, Mr Uthman Kamil, who was the sole councillor inaugurated out of the three councillors, confirmed that he was the only one at the venue of the inauguration.

However, the affected councillors, Ismail Adeniyi and Oyewale Sheriff,   in their separate responses, stated that they were not duly informed of the venue of the inauguration.

They said they were directed to a different place apart from the real designated venue for the inauguration.

Members of the All progressive Congress, who were also at the meeting said that they would resist any imposition of candidate on them.

The lawmakers in their remarks appealed to the aggrieved party members to sheath their swords as the house would look into it with a view to finding a lasting solution to the issue.

They however berated the Council Manager for carrying out the inauguration in the absence of others.