The government of Oyo State on Monday declared that it would bring the full weight of the law to bear on the sacked Local Government Chairmen who broke into some Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas’ secretariats to vandise government properties.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Strategy and Political Matters, Babatunde Oduyoye.
The statement read in part: “Reports from different parts of Oyo State confirmed on Monday that the sacked chairmen resorted to break-ins and vandalisation of government properties, leading some imposters to seize offices of council Chairmen.
“The State Government, maintains that the action of the sacked chairmen amounts to criminality and unwarranted provocation.
“We condemn the unwarranted lawlessness and motor-park-like brigandage perpetrated by the sacked chairmen on Monday.
“The imposters broke into council offices, vandalising gates, doors, windows and other properties at the respective local council secretariats.
“The government, however, appeals to the teeming people of the State to remain calm, law-abiding and patient, pending the decision of the Court of Appeal on the matter slated for 19 February 2020.
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“We have received reports of vandalisation of government property. We have received reports of wanton destruction of doors, windows, and others, and I can tell you that the governor will not sit down and watch while some people decide to be lawless. This is criminal and the government will pursue it to a logical conclusion.
“So, pending the determination of the cases at the Court of Appeal, I think it is only appropriate for these chairmen to be law-abiding because we had said earlier that it is sub judice and we cannot do anything until these cases are determined in the court.
“As a law-abiding and peace-loving Government, the 68 caretaker chairmen appointed by Governor Makinde were directed to stay away from the secretariats in order to forestall an outbreak of violence, noting, however, that the chairmen have been charged with keeping peace and order in their respective local councils.
“We in Oyo State are law-abiding citizens. The government directed the chairmen to maintain peace. We have just finished a meeting now and workers in the state under the umbrella of NULGE are on strike, and you now begin to ask why the sacked APC council chairmen went to the local government councils.
“The issue is, there is industrial action by NULGE. I think they are justified by the level of reports we have received of people macheting PDP members they found around the local government councils’ premises, destroying government properties, forcing doors open and all that. NULGE was right to have taken such a decision. We do not begrudge them for doing that but we have told our people to be law-abiding. We have told the chairmen too to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order within the local government areas.”
