BEING THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE KWARA STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS' VICE CHAIRMEN AND* *COUNCILORS OVER THE ILLEGAL SUSPENSION OF THE ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT* *COUNCILS IN KWARA STATE FOR 6 MONTHS WHICH HAS ENDED (18TH JUNE -17TH DECEMBER,

Date: 2019-12-19

All protocol duly and respectfully observed.

It would be recalled that both the *Executive* and *Legislative* *Councils* of the 16 LGAs in *Kwara State* were suspended on the 18th June, 2019 based on the recommendation of the *State Assembly* arising from a frivolous petition written by one Saidu Aliyu from Ilorin West LGA which alleged misappropriation of funds amounting to #33billion FAAC and over #10billion IGR accruing to the councils.

To our dismay, the petition was deliberated upon by the *State House Of Assembly* on Tuesday 18th June, 2019, resolution was passed on the same day and His Excellency , *Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq* , the *Executive Governor Of Kwara State* graciously approved the House recommendation the same day. The speed at which the event took place was a clear breach of the section 29 of *Kwara State local government law* Cap 33. The action of the *Executive Governor* and *House of Assembly* amount to *Executive and Legislative* rascality. It's against this background we call all peace loving Kwarans to condemn this act of lawlessness and impunity in strong terms.

Based on public outcry on the *Ways* and *Manners* the House handled the petition, the house later invited the Council Chairmen, *Hon Speakers,* *DPMs* , *Accountants* and *Treasurers* for questioning which was supposed to have taken place before the illegal suspension. Our Suspension was based on *Suspicion* . It is our belief that it is law that matters. However strong a suspicion is, it can never be good for conviction/disciplinary action.

The House recommendations allegedly indicted the *Sixteen Council Chairmen* on the remittance of 10% IGR being paid to their personal accounts.

As at this moment,the *Sixteen Local Government Vice Chairmen have not been invited for either questioning or interrogation, while the *Hon. Speakers who were invited by the *House of Assembly* were not found guilty. It's our contention that the whole episode is a breach of our Fundamental right to fair hearing as contained in Section 36(1)of 1999 constitution as amended.

In view of the aforementioned, the *Sixteen Local Government Vice Chairmen* , , *Hon. Speakers and elected councillors unanimously resolved as follows:*

*(¡)* Having exhausted all possible means to resolve the matter amicably and all efforts to secure positive response from the Government proved abortive; all elected *Councillors* , *Vice Chairmen,* *Secretaries* and *Supervisors* are directed to resume work immediately since the period of illegal suspension has expired. We are already in *Court* to ensure that such illegal act does not persist.

*(¡¡)* We implored the *Executive Governor Of Kwara State* and the *State House of Assembly* to extend their hands of magnanimity to the councils in order to move the State forward and we strongly belief that the Government will *Abide* by the rules and regulations as enshrined in the 1999 constitution which recognizes the *Local Government Councils* as the third tier of Government.

*(¡¡¡)* The constitution made provision for only Democratically elected Local Government. So, if the local government is democratically elected and they have fixed tenure, then nobody can remove them based on suspicion. Just as nobody can remove members of State and National Assemblies until their period lapses too.

Most unfortunately, in flagrant disobedience of the constitution and the local government law, the State Government foist an illegal 6months Suspension on us. The illegal Suspension was not accepted because we were not guilty of any offence; but we remained at home for peace to reign.

Cruciously Again , on 17th December 2019 , an illegal extension was pronounced by the Government. This extension is not known to the Constitution of the *Federal Republic of Nigeria*. Therefore , it is nothing but a rape on our *Fundamental Right* . The suspension is therefore rejected.

*(¡v)* We are in support of *Federal Government* strategies aimed at fighting corruption because it is now universally accepted that corruption poses critical challenges to economic and social development and diverts resources from legitimate causes beneficial to society at large; but due process is key in curbing the menace.

Conclusively , the *Supreme Court Judgment* has laid to rest argument whether or not the *State Governor* has power to dissolve the duly elected council *chairmen* and *Councillors*. It amounts to *Executive recklessness for Governor* to dissolve duly elected councils. The judgment goes further to say that there is no provision for *TIC* or *Sole Administrators* . Our Suspension from office is flagrant attempt to override the clear position of *Law* and *constitution* and *foist the unpopular* and *undemocratic caretaker committee on the Council* .

Finally , we urge all the *Council Democratically Elected Members* to get prepared for a press conference On Monday23RD, Dec 2019 for the masses Nationwide to see the unlawful treatment being meted on elected *Local Government* *Vice Chairmen* and *Councillors* by the Government of the day in *Kwara State* .

Signed:

*Hon Yusuf Salihu Mohammed* ,

Chairman , Kw/St,

LGA V. Chairmen.

Signed:

*Rt Hon Habeeb Olalere Quadri* ,

Chairman, Kw/St,

LGA Councillors

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Nigeria Customs Service     Ibrahim Bio     Mazars Consulting     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Ladi Hassan     Idiagbon     Sheikh Ariyibi     Toyosi Thomas     Yaman     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Tuesday Assayomo     Saliu Alamoyo     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Okeose Christian Cementary     ITP     Sulyman Tejidini     Ahmed Bayero     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Mahe Abdulkadir     Garuba Alikinla Shittu     Turaki Of Ilorin     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Apaola     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Assayomo     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Rashidi Yekini     Alapado     Lola Ashiru     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     QuickWin     Gabriel Fashanu     Bashir Badawi     Ilorin.Info     Leke Ogungbe     Ahmed Alhasssan     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Kwara North     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     JMK Construction Company Limited     Olabode Towoju     Oba Abu     Bahago     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Government House     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Elewu     Wasiu Odewale     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Wahab Agbaje     JAAC     Adaramaja     Henry Makinwa     Idowu Laro     Ahmed \'Lateef     Charcoal     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Iyaloja-General     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Durbar Festival     Bola Magaji     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Olaitan Adefila     Jalala     Aminat Omodara     Gaa Olobi     CELF     Tunde Yusuf     Tsaragi-Share     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Afonja Descendants Union     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Suleiman Mora Omar     Salihu Jibril Garbi     Afonja    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Binta Abubakar Mora     Kwara State Television     Ibrahim Oniye     Jani Ibrahim     Sabi     Council Of The Wise     Yoruba     Bello John Olanrewaju     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Yaman     Olatunde Olukoya     Turaki     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Kayode Ibrahim     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Olam Food Ingredients     Kwara NIPR     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Patience Jonathan     Dele Belgore     Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin     Kabir Shagaya     Quareeb     UNIFEMGA     Kale Bayero     Dogara     Kwara State Government     Jimoh Bashir     Sunset Workers     Saidu Kawu     Dankaka     Aminat Ahmed     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Ilorin Curfew     2023 Elections     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Muhammadu Gobir     Charcoal     Naira Redesign     V.O. Abioye     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     Oja-Oba     Col. Adedipe     Kwara State Sports Commission     Col. Taiwo     Hajj     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Okanlawon Taiwo     Isin     Saka Abimbola Isau     Ajase-Ipo     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Saad Omo Iya     Ayobami Akanbi     Police Commissioner     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Ronke Adeyemi     Lateef Alagbonsi     COEASU     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Saheed Akinwumi     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Omotoso     Buhari     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Adama Isa     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Akeem Olatunji     Centre For Digital Economy     Ilorin Emirate     Olaitan Buraimoh     KFA     Amada Jidda     Turaki Of Ilorin