LG crisis: Don’t set Oyo ablaze, Ibadan Mogajis tell Buhari, Malami

TRACKING____Traditional Family Heads in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, otherwise known as “Authentic Mogajis”, yesterday warned the Federal Government and the Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), against precipitating any act that can set the state ablaze. The Mogajis were apparently reacting to the forceful take-over of the local government administration by the APC chairmen following the directive from Malami to ensure the council chairmen resume to their respective offices with support of the Commissioner of Police in the state. According to the Publicity Secretary of the group, Chief Wale Oladoja, the Federal Government should respect the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the governors to care for local government in their various states.

The Mogajis maintained that the government’s position became imperative following the threats of violence by the sacked illegal chairmen and the stay-at-home order issued to all local government workers in the state by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). According to the family heads, Oyo State has been peaceful and there is need for government to maintain the peaceful atmosphere in the state. The Mogajis said: “We are amazed with the latest development on the issue of local government in our dear Oyo State. We wonder when it becomes the role of the Attorney General of the Federation to determine who leads local government areas. “It is imperative to note that we have 33 local gov-ernment areas in Oyo State not 68 as election was held in those LCDAs, which made the election null and void.

“We want President Buhari to caution his aides, who are working hard to ensure that our democracy is truncated. “We appeal to the president to make sure that the issue of local government in Oyo State does not lead to crisis as we are aware that many of the APC chairmen had forcefully taken over their council. “If anything happens to our sons and daughters who are working in our councils, the Attorney General will be held responsible for giving questionable order.