LG dissolution, I am being misrepresented, Mimiko

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has corrected the false impression being created in a section of the media quoting him as having insisted that the dissolution of local government councils in the state was not only final but irreversible.

        Dr. Mimiko while making this classification in a release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, stated that although he took full responsibility for the dissolution of the councils, the decision to dissolve them was taken based on legal advice of the State Ministry of Justice.

        According to him, while he would not wish to join issues with anybody on the correctness or otherwise of this action, he would also refrain from commenting on the matter as it has already become a matter before a competent court of law.

        His words: “Issues are already joined and my position has consistently been that since the Chairmen of these councils have gone to court and we have joined issues, we should allow the courts of law to adjudicate in this matter.

        “So, the reversibility of otherwise of the dissolution of the councils will be the prerogative of the courts of law arising from these court processes.  However, as I have constantly reiterated, ours, is a government committed to democratic practice, fairness, rule of law and due process, and we will abide by what ever pronouncement the courts make on this issue.”

        The Governor also thanked the people of Ondo State for heeding his clarion calls to maintain the peace despite series of provocations and urged them to continue to keep the peace.

Meanwhile, the State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)  has called on its members in the State to discountenance an announcement made by the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ondo State asking workers to resume work.

According to the Caretaker Chairman of NULGE in the State, Mr. Joshua Maigida Irapakob, in view of the precarious security currently in the councils occasioned by the take over of the secretariats by former councils political office holders, workers of the State Chapter of the union must not report to duties except they hear from the NULGE leadership in the State.

His words: “We want to state emphatically that our members (NULGE ONDO STATE) will not resume work because the security report reaching us still indicates that tension is still very high and because of this, Local Government employees in the State are still required to stay at home until otherwise directed by the Union. We do not want to lose a soul.”