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ONDO AND TACTICAL DELAY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION






The  local government areas have continued to be referred to as the third tier  government, moreso the main and one that is nearer to the people at the grassroots level for development.

Looking at meaning of government, it simply refer to as group of people with that authority vested on them to govern a country, state, local, ministry or agency (ies).moreso with the control of economy , security and making statutory Laws for good governance.


Hence, the importance of local government system/ administration , especially in Nigeria can not be over-emphasised as it is the type of government that the people at the grassroots can easily access and ran to in time of need and assistance.


However in the recent times, the politics and the intricacies surrounding and affecting the constitution of authorities that direct or governs the affairs of the local government areas have been a thing  of concern as it affects the growth and development of nearly if not all the seven hundred seventy-four (774)  local government areas across the nation in the mind of concern citizenry, over issue or discussion described as local government autonomy.


The situation in  Ondo state does not differ in this regard concerning the local government authorities autonomy as some stakeholders positioned that the real fabric of attraction at many local government areas across the nation seems to be in tattered, with shame left alone to play dominance in the hands of politicians, all in name of  financial control which is the power back-bone.


Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu assumed office as the number one man in the state on 24th April,2016 amidst pump and pagantries  with promises that governance at the grassroots be given priority.


His immediate predictcessor , Dr. Olusegun Mimiko sometimes in April 2016 held a local government election that produced some elected local government officials across the whole eighteen (18) local government areas in the state. Although this election can not be totally absolved for it shortcomings, yet it was conducted to certified conscience.


On assumption of office of Akeredolu, with his avowed commitment at developing the grassroots, dissolved the whole elected officials in the council, hinged on issues that the election that produced the official were faulty, noting that their election can not stand. As  the governor immediately put in place a caretaker committee in all the local government areas of the state, which since have been reconstituted.


Thereafter, the Akeredolu administration put-place the state election body known as Ondo state Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) for conduct of the local government election across the eighteen local government areas in the state.


The Electoral body headed by  Prof. Yomi Dinakin promised on August 15,2018 that by 1st of December,2018 the local government election across the state will be duely conducted.


However,the promise just looks like that of a mother finding ways at persuading or excussing herself from the crying son or daughter, so she can leave home peaceful to her destiny, by  promising buying him or her buscuit, which  she did not fulfill. Up till now the local government election in the state has not been conducted, with no specific reason than political-strategized excuse as a way out , as campaign heat-up for  his second term bid.


Although with the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on March 21st,2019 setting up a committee headed by Prince Lanke Odogiyan to look into matters relating to creation of new Local Council Develpment Authority (LCDA) in the whole eighteen Local Councils, opinions were of the view that an attempt to foot-drag on the local government election and more a strategy at preparing ground for Akeredolu's second term bid ambition.


While with the submission of the reports by the committee to the Governor, promising that new LCDAs will be created  in due course without a specific time frame, and going by way of politician words, there may not be any local government election in the life of Akeredolu's tenure posited Mrs Eunice Olonisakin a woman leader in People's Democratic party ,PDP in the state.

When contacted why such delay at conducting local government election in the state, commisoner for Information, Hon. Donald Ojogo in his words 
said,  ";this is for the party to react, aside that, Government had set up ODIEC long ago, it cannot speak on its election plans".


Speaking on this development of delay at conducting local government election in the state, Zadock Akintoye, spokesperson for the People's Democratic party (PDP) in Ondo state,  in his words says " I believe the delay may be due to the fact that there is a present legal tussle between our duly elected local government chairmen and the APC-led ODSG.

"As a party, we believe its an overstretch of the constitutional rights of a governor for the APC to have sacked duly elected local government chairmen and replace them with caretakers.

"While we acknowledge that we have a case in court at the moment, let us say clearly that our party believes that local governments must be allowed to choose their leaders and representatives without pressure from the incumbent governor and his party.

"We also do note that the APC led government refuses to allow duly elected local government chairmen to take charge of their councils simply for the opportunity to subvert the law and take undue custody of the resources acrueable to the local government areas".


Alex Kalejaye is also the spokesperson for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo state noted that " Our duty as a party is to field candidates, and support them for an elections. It is the duty of State Electoral body to, among others, organise elections at the local government level.We will be ready whenever the electoral body announces readiness for the election.

"As for state's readiness, I think the State Government wanted to ensure the completion of the local government creation process before getting fully set for any election". He posited

While with all, who and why the long delay at conducting credible election that willl put-in place leadership across the whole eighteen (18) local government areas of  Ondo state.

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