By Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO—The Governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, said that the objective of his administration in conducting a referendum on Local Government creation is in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The governor stated this after casting his vote at the Ifofin Ward 8 Unit 1 in Ilesa at the ongoing referendum on the creation of new local governments in the state by the Osun Independent Electoral Commission.

The state government in 2012 set up a committee to look into how the state could create viable local government councils with sustainable socio-economic potentials.

Prof Mojeed Alabi, a professor of Political Science and a former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly was made the chairman of the committee which has since submitted its report to the governor.

Aregbesola pointed out that the state will do everything possible under the constitution of Nigeria to create Local Governments that will meet all required standards, noting that the basis for the exercise was the genuine desire and consent of the people of Osun.

He stressed that the state government is determined to ensure that all legal, technical and constitutional procedures are followed to the letter in the council creation processes hence the referendum in all wards of the state.

The Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC, Otunba Oladunjoye Oladitan, held that the essence of conducting the referendum is for OSIEC to know how desirous the local governments to be created are to the people.

He noted that the turn out of the people of the state in every ward of the existing local governments is overwhelming, saying the result of the referendum will be transmitted to the state House of Assembly.