Ondo Gov, Aiyedatiwa suspends caretaker chairmen, orders immediate submission of LG assets

Adebayo Adenrele



The governor of Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has suspended caretaker chairmen of the 18 local government areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the state.

This was contained in a letter by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by Alonge Adewale.

The governor also ordered them to submit all local government property and assets in their possession with immediate alacrity.

NEWSTODAYNG gathered that an Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi had granted an interim injunction filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which sought to restrain late governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from inaugurating any person or persons not democratically elected as member(s) of caretaker committees to administer the affairs of the local councils and the LCDA pending the determination of the interlocutory Injunction in this suit.

Justice Fasanmi later barred the caretaker chairmen from operating after they resumed office on the excuse that they had been sworn in before the order was granted.

The caretaker chairmen are to remain suspended until the case is determined by the court.

The letter reads: “It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAS) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State by a Court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts.

“Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in acting capacity pending the resolution of all Legal matters relating to this subject.”