By Ola Ajayi
IBADAN—GOVERNOR Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State, has ordered the immediate sack of the interim Chairman of Ibadan South-East Local Government, Abiodun Adedoja Ekolo, believed to be the candidate of his deputy, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja.

Ekolo, who was appointed last week, was sacked for undisclosed reasons. In his stead, Mr. Hakeem Olatunji, has been sworn in as the new council chief. The other two Chairmen of Ibadan South-West and Ibarapa North, are Ismaila Alao and Isaac Omolewa, respectively.

Vanguard learnt that the move by the governor may have taken the deputy by surprise as he was reportedly expecting his candidate, Ekolo, to be among the three new council bosses.

The U-turn made by Governor Alao-Akala may have been informed by the protest that greeted the re-appointment of the sacked chairman after the expiration of his tenure which started in 2007.

The protesters with various anti-Adedoja’s inscriptions had opposed the re-appointment of Adedoja, alleging maladministration and high handedness.

The protesters would have disrupted the inauguration of the sacked Adedoja last week but for the heavy Police presence which kept them at bay.

Still bent on registering their disapproval over the re_appointment, the protesters also mounted roadblocks to the council secretariat to prevent the sacked council boss from gaining entry.

The State Government had earlier dissolved the local government executive and the dissolution decision had been approved by the state House of Assembly last week.

Akala tasked the new chairmen to live up to expectation and shun embarking on any white elephant projects which would not be beneficial to the people.