Under JKF, Ekiti is A Role Model for Upholding Rule of Law & Tenet of Democracy. By Oduayo Ategbero
Upholding Rule of Law and Tenet of Democracy, Ekiti state government is a role model under Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The news of the recent reinstatement of 8 suspended local government chairmen, out of the 16 that were suspended by the immediate past house of assembly is worthy of acknowledging and appreciating. It is recalled that when His Excellency the Governor of Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, assumed office as the Governor of the state in October 2018, people expected he would dissolve the local government elected officers. But contrary to this expectation, he did nothing of such. The then house of assembly which had majority of its members as PDP in the cause of their oversight functions suspended the local government elected officers(who were all PDP), claiming that they(the officers) mismanaged local government funds. Since that time, investigation into the finances of the local government had commenced. Now that the preliminary report of the house investigation is being considered by this present house of assembly, 8 of the 16 chairmen and their councillors have been cleared and reinstated to their positions. The good thing about this is that, Ekiti state house of assembly, as an arm of government, has demonstrated that democracy at the grassroots level of governance is the best for the socio economic and political development of the people. I, as an unrepentant ADVOCATE of democracy at the local government level of governance in our country, is very much pleased with this step taken so far by the Ekiti state house of assembly, for upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that guarantees that “there shall be elected local governments in the country. Kudos to Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the Ekiti state house of assembly for this feet. I will want to appeal to the house, to expedite action on reports of the remaining 8 local governments, so that they too can go back to work at their different local governments. May I also call on other States in the Federation, that have dissolved elected local governments in their states, to take a cue from what Ekiti state government has done rightly, by returning these elected local governments officers back to their positions without further delay. Hope is alive at the end of the tunnel, that sooner than later, local government system in Nigeria shall achieve and enjoy full autonomy, where there shall be elected local governments in place of caretaker committees. God bless Ekiti state, God bless Nigeria.
Odunayo Ategbero is ALGON national Trustee