A civil society organisation, the Ondo Redemption Front, ORF, has expressed concern over local government administration in the state, stressing that the councils were being strangled in the state.
According to the group, despite the effort of the Federal Government in ensuring that effective governance is enhanced through effective local government administration, the state government has been frustrating the move.
During a press briefing, ORF called on the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation to revisit the implementation of the Supreme Judgement on the Local Government autonomy.
The Chairman of the group, Ayodeji Ologun, emphasised that governance has been reduced to pronouncements and endless political shadowboxing, stating that instead of tackling the state’s pressing challenges, time has been wasted in political feuds.
Emphasising that the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa must wake up and face the sacred trust he has been handed; Ologun stated that true governance demands listening, planning, and acting decisively.
He said, “You will recall that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation some time ago approached the Supreme Court in order to give life to our local governments.
“The reliefs sought by the Federal Government for our Local Government were granted, and the Honourable Attorney General assured Nigerians and, by extension, the people of Ondo State that our local governments will have an independent way of accessing their funds directly from the federation account for effective local government administration.
While dismissing the allegations as baseless, the state chapter of APC described the position of the group as a desperate attempt to cast aspersions on the image of an elected government.
The ruling party, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, stated, “Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration remains resolute in delivering on its electoral mandate with commendable prudence and foresight.
“In relation to local government administration, it is imperative to state that the Aiyedatiwa-led government operates strictly within the legal and constitutional framework guiding the three tiers of government.”
