LG autonomy: Avoid crisis, obey Supreme Court judgment – Ojogo tells Aiyedatiwa

The member representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in Ondo, Hon Donald Ojogo, has advised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to obey the Supreme Court judgment that granted full financial autonomy to the local governments.

Ojogo gave the advice in a statement titled “Supreme Court Verdict/Ondo LCDAs: LET’S AVOID THE LOOMING IMPASSE.”

The lawmaker urged the governor to halt the planned inauguration of the newly appointed transition committee members for the 18 Local Government Areas and the 33 Local Council Development Areas.

Ojogo said: “The Supreme Court judgement granting full financial autonomy to the Local Governments is a welcome development. The position expressed by Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR hailing the verdict further serves as a commendable booster of hope to Nigeria’s rural dwellers at the grassroots. By virtue of this judgement, our locals shall now feel governance closer to them in the real sense of it, going forward.

“Undoubtedly, the judgement is novel; and it has enriched the Nation’s jurisprudence further. Consequently, stakeholders and critical players at the grassroots are enjoined to embrace and adapt to this breaking judicial pronouncement.

“Consequently, I wish to avail myself the indulgence offered by this ORDER of the Apex Court to urge Mr. Governor, His Excellency, Hon. LUCKY AYEDATIWA to tarry, in the swearing-in of the Transition Committees into the LGAs and LCDAs with a view to curing the political eventualities following the judgement.

“Clearly, the Supreme Court judgement has put in abeyance, the hopes of most, if not all enclaves whose desire for deepened grassroots governance were raised by the creation/appointments into the new LCDAs. Succinctly, the good intentions of Mr. Governor to bring good governance closer to the grassroots appears to have been invalidated by this judicial pronouncement.

“Going ahead to inaugurate the LCDAs has the potentials of permeating needless distrust and unbelievably huge political arrogance by those on the side of the new balance of advantage opened by the Apex Court.

“It is evident therefore, that, by this verdict, going ahead with the inauguration of the LGAs/LCDAs will put Ugbo, Aheri, Etikan and Arogbo-Ijaw Kingdoms of Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency at the mercy of the principal LGAs of ILAJE and ESE-ODO respectively. We can avoid the needless socio-political impasse that steers at us by reverting to our original 18 LGAs already referenced by the verdict of the Ondo State High Court.”