Date: 2019-12-24

Suspended vice chairmen and councillors in the 16 local government councils in Kwara State have declared January 2nd, 2020 as fasting and prayer day in preparation for fighting for their rights allegedly violated by the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

The council helmsmen at a press conference in Ilorin on Monday alleged that the state governor had violated the 1999 Constitution by placing a six-month suspension on elected council officials.

The state governor had placed a six-month suspension on the council officials on June, 18, 2019 which was further extended by another six months on December 19, 2019.

Speaking on behalf of the Association of Vice Chairmen and Councillors, Alhaji Salihu Mohammed said, "It is clear that the suspension slammed on the local government councils, particularly the legislative arm is not just unlawful but, indeed, an arbitrary exercise of executive power.

"All the councillors in Kwara State rejected the suspension but resolved to remain at home in order to give peace a chance," he said.

Mohammed, however, lamented that all entreaties made to persuade the government to rescind the suspension order were "tactically blocked."

He declared that both the vice chairmen and councillors were not incriminated in the investigations conducted by the state government.

Mohammed said, "For the past six months, investigations being carried out by the government on the local government councils only found the 16 council chairmen wanting.

"Nothing was found against the honourable speakers that were invited.

"The vice chairmen and other councillors were not invited for questioning, yet they were left on suspension. "We know, and we know that Government knows too, that the vice chairmen and councillors did not perpetrate any fraud in the councils.

"Why are we then preventing elected officers from doing their jobs and from collecting their entitlements?"

He said all the suspended vice chairmen and councillors were placed on half salaries during the first six months of their suspension, adding that with the extension of the suspension order, their salaries had been stopped.

Mohammed appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and eminent personalities to prevail on Gov Abdulrazaq to stop the pains inflicted on the suspended elected local government officials.