Supreme Court verdict on LG autonomy: Ajulo, AG Ondo State manufacturing his own laws

By Sola Olatunji

The breaking news about the Supreme Court decision on LG autonomy yesterday was a victory for democracy.

In some of my articles, I raised several fundamental issues about democracy and good governance and also emphasized the relevance of the grassroots in politics. As a matter of fact, it’s the grassroots that oil the wheels of democracy.

Regrettably, in Nigeria, the grassroots have been disconnected from good governance as the local authority expected to dispense dividends of democracy to citizens within their domain have since been muzzled up by their governors who most times, act brutally and unleash terror on these toothless authority mostly handpicked by these governors.

There is a wise saying that ‘he who plays the piper, dictates the tune. Here we are, for several decades, our LG were just cultural and entertainment’ centres. They were not empowered to construct ordinary culverts or repair roads. All rates like market stalls, parks, tenement rates ,etc. that should be exclusively reserved for LG have been muzzled up by the state governors illegally over the years.

It’s even painful that the LG that should naturally be a breeding ground for the best and brilliant individuals as leaders have been compromised. It’s also a known fact that when a wrong person is imposed on his people as a leader. He will spend four years explaining reasons why he can’t deliver the dividends of democracy to his people. I think we have reasons enough to celebrate this judgment of joy and human liberties.

While we were anticipating this profound and landmark judgment by the supreme court on LG autonomy, a friend of mine alerted me about the breaking news in my home state, Ondo. I saw this headline ,Lucky Aiyedatiwa, created transitioning committees for the 33 LCDAs and existing LG. I laughed hysterically because we all desired these LCDAs. It will deepen democracy, edifies good governance, and also guarantee inclusion.

But honestly speaking, with the last court pronouncement on it that the process of the LCDAs was wrong. It means these LCDAs don’t exist in the face of the laws. I thought it would have been better for the government to correct the anomaly and appeal the judgment rather than spending taxpayers’ money on what has been declared illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction.

I think the AG, Ajulo, is misleading the government and interpreting the law to suit his own intention. By doing so, he is manufacturing his own law. I also recall that he previously condemned the decision of the FG to seek the Supreme Court decision on the LG autonomy. He described the process as middlesome interloper by the FG, and now we have a judgment on the table.

I read the position of Donald Ojogo, a house of Reps member representing Ilaje/ Ese Odo Federal constituency. I can’t but agree with his position, even now that LG has become autonomous and accountable to the citizens within their domain and not any governor.

Otunba Sola Olatunji is a chieftain APC