The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has warned local government chairmen not to let Governor Seyi Makinde lead them into trouble with the law.
The warning came in a statement on Monday, August 5.
The Supreme Court had granted autonomy to local governments across the country, but local government chairmen in Oyo State have expressed dissatisfaction with this decision. They have also decided to leave the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and create their own group.
In response, the APC advised the chairmen not to defy the Supreme Court’s ruling. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare, urged all 33 local government councils in the state to avoid supporting Makinde’s attempts to ignore the Supreme Court’s decision.
Sadare warned that following the governor’s lead could result in legal trouble. He accused Makinde of ignoring the rule of law and being greedy.
“The damage done to local government in Oyo State over the past 62 months became clear when Governor Makinde criticized the federal government and the judiciary on financial autonomy,” Sadare said.
He added that Makinde has been trying to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision, which many see as a victory for the people. According to Sadare, this behavior has confirmed accusations of misusing local government funds against Makinde.
Sadare emphasized that the Supreme Court’s decision is final, and no governor, including Makinde, can ignore it. He also pointed out that Oyo State is part of Nigeria and cannot act independently while relying on federal support.
