How Makinde’s ‘Strong Head’ Will Send Oyo LG Chairmen And Heads Of Administration To Jail
In Oyo state, the crow is about to beat the hatchling of the sparrow. A big fight is in the offing.
Governor Seyi Makinde is not hiding his intentions to take on the Federal Government of Nigeria as a result of the conflicts ignited by a recent Judgment of the Supreme court of Nigeria.
The Supreme court had ruled in favor of financial Autonomy for the 774 Local Governments but Governor Makinde would have none of that.
It is like his effigy is destined for doom, insisting on being taken out for a swim at the river.
At a ”stakeholders” meeting called by the Governor, he made it clear that the Federal Government of Nigeria cannot dictate to him on how he will run the affairs of Oyo Local Governments and as a result of that, he has set up two committees to ”review” the judgment of the Apex court in line with what he referred to as ” home grown solutions”.
So hilarious!
You would have thought you were being treated to some Nollywood comedy yesterday.
I have made my views known about the theatrics of Governor Makinde regarding his vituperations against the judgment.
His reaction, better described as ” japoro” is not worth over-flogging.
It is only where there are no smooth grounds that you argue about who is better in a wrestling contest.
However, it is obvious that Governor Makinde will ensure that some individuals are made casualties and sacrificial lambs in his egocentric fight against the Federal Government.
The last time I checked, Governor Makinde is not a signatory to the bank accounts of the 33 local governments in Oyo state and neither is he the accounting officer of any of the Local Governments.
The elected Chairmen of each Local Government are the accounting officers while the Heads of Local Government Administration and the Directors of Finance are the signatories to the Accounts of the Local Governments.
The above individuals are those I wish to advise.
Apart from the fact that Governor Makinde is neither a signatory to any of the Bank Accounts of the Local Governments nor is he the accounting officer, he also enjoys immunity from prosecution, a luxury which Local Government Chairmen and the Heads of Administration do not enjoy.
My advice is short and simple. Before you carry out any illegal directives from Governor Makinde as a Local Government Chairman, HLA or DF, beware of the consequences.
The eyes of the public is glued to the activities of the Local Governments more than ever before.
The Local Government Chairmen and the Heads of Administration, not the Governor nor some irrelevant Commissioner for Local Government will be held accountable for every last Kobo of the Local Governments henceforth.
Governor Makinde has done enough damage to the 33 Local Governments in Oyo state.
It is well and good for the Governor to hide behind immunity from criminal prosecution to make reckless and irresponsible statements against the judgment of the Supreme court.
Local Government Chairmen and Heads of Administration do not enjoy such luxury as I have said earlier.
The judgment of the Supreme court is a banana peels for whoever wishes to go to jail.
It is out of position for Governor Makinde to sit in his office and be picking holes in the judgment of the Apex Court, which, according to him, he was yet to set eyes on.
Some of us have dedicated ourselves to raise advocacy and ensure that proper monitoring of the funds released to Local Governments in Oyo state are done to ensure fiscal responsibilities.
There are no hiding places.
To the Local Government Chairmen, beware.
You will be watched.
To the Career officers, ignore illegal and criminal directives from the Governor, either directly or through the Local Government Chairmen.
Governor Makinde lacks the powers to interpret judgments of courts to suit his whims and caprices.
The Law is what the Supreme court says it is. Not what the fantasies of Governor Makinde says it is.
