Local government chairmen in Kwara State are now uncertain of their fate and have started surreptitious moves to reconcile with some of their principals who facilitated their elections, to avoid the fate that have befallen their suspended colleagues.

From Tunde Sanni in Ilorin, 12.18.2005

This is coming on the heels of indications that their suspended colleagues may not rebe recalled.

Already, Mr Dele Abiodun, the suspended Chairman, Ekiti Local Government, who was the first to be axed by the state Governor, Bukola Saraki, is now contending with an impeachment process from the legislative arm of his council.

Abiodun was accused of financial recklessness and “executive rascality,” by the legislative council.

Leader of Ekiti Local Government Legislative Council, Honourable Bukola Kareem, had filed a notice before the council, containing allegations of diversion and misappropriation of funds leveled against the chairman.

According to Kareem, the filing of the notice was in accordance with the provision of Section 28 of the Local Government Law No. 8 of 2005.

The notice, with reference number EKLG/LC/PD/S/07/1 and dated December 8, was signed by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Mr Olumaiyegun Monday of Isapa Ward, Majority Leader, Mr Olufemi Ajayi (Eruku ward) and five other councillors.

Other allegations raised against the chairman includedtaking loans and overdrafts without the approval of the legislative arm and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He was also accused of deliberate duplication of expenditure and outrageous inflation of contract sums; lack of accountability and transparency; especially in the amount collected for his furniture allowance and diversion and misappropriation of crude oil money allocated to the council for specific projects.

In addition, Abiodun was asked to respond to allegation of employing private auditor without the consent of the Auditor General of the state. The notice described Abiodun’s period in office as a period characterised with anomalies including siphoning local government funds and non-compliance with state government’s approved proposal on projects.

Meanwhile surviving council chiefs have started fence mending with their estranged political backers as a means to escape the hammer of suspension. Some of the councils chiefs, THISDAY gathered, months after their elections had picked quarrels with their political backers citing scandalous financial demands.

But as the fog of suspension on them became thicker, the local government chieftains were said to become embattled and have started to send emissaries to their patrons for reconciliation on the terms of the patrons.