Gov Fayemi dissolves council executives
By Gbenga Ariyibi, Ado-Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, has ordered the dissolution of all the 16 local governments in Ekiti State, just as the affected council chairmen have vowed to jettison the directive of the state government.
The dissolution came just at the court yesterday struck out the interlocutory application filed by the former Council chairmen in Ekiti State.
According to the statement signed by the Secretary to the Government, SSG, Dr Ganiyu Owolabi, the dissolution is with immediate effect.
The SSG said the action was in line with the belief of the State Government in the rule of law, since the Court had struck out the plea of the affected officials to remain in office.
Following this development, all the affected Chairmen and officials are to hand over Government properties to the Directors of Administration of their respective Local Government Areas.
The state government however thanked all the former council bosses for their contributions to the growth of Ekiti State and wished them success in their future endeavours.
Reacting on behalf of the embattled council chairmen, the chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigera, ALGON , Prince Sanmi Olubunmo in a statement said the announcement made through the state owned media said the announcement was unknown to the law.
According to the ALGON chief, the purported. dissolution of democratically elected officials of councils’’ cannot be done by radio announcement, but through a due process of law and ooficial notice.
The council chairmen pointed out that the governor cannot single handedly dissolve the council through fiat, noting that he needed the concurrent approval of the lawmakers.
‘’As it is now, the Assembly members are on a legislative trip to Germany.where then is this purported authority to suo moto sack the councils emanated .
Apprehensive that they could be dissolved following the nullification of the election of the former Governor Segun Oni as the validly elected Governor of the State, the council chairmen have approached the Justice Ayodeji Daramola led Court, praying it to grant an interlocutory injunction that will restrain the state government from dissolving them.
The council chairmen sought an order that will restrain the state government from taking any action against them pending the determination of the substantive suit.
When the case came for hearing on Friday, the Council chairmen had through their counsels sought for the withdrawal of the application and pleaded for extension of time for further amendment on the applications.
Following the withdrawal, the Judge struck out the application and adjourned till November 9, 2010 for the continuation of the case.
Having got wind of the Court’s pronouncement, striking out the case, the state government struck and dissolved the councils with immediate effect, the situation that rattled the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the State.
