Oyo govt sacks Akala’s son as local govt chair

From left: (front): National Vice-Chairman (Southwest), All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Pius Akinyelure; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State chapter, Pastor Benjamin Akanmu; Oyo South Senatorial District candidate of the APC, Governor Abiola Ajimobi (middle); CAN Second Vice-Chairman, Bishop Emmanuel Ogundeji and governorship candidate of the party, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, when the APC leaders visited the association’s secretariat in Ibadan...yesterday

The Oyo State government has endorsed the sack of Mr Olamijuwon Alao-Akala, a son of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, as the Executive Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area.

In his place, former Vice Chairman Abas Bello has been sworn in an acting capacity to chair the council.

The decision followed the change of party by the sacked local government chairman from the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) to the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the platform on which his father is contesting the governorship seat.

The government made the announcement as well as the swearing-in of the acting local government chairman yesterday through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bimbo Kolade, at the state secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.

The sacked council chief was elected on May 12, last year, on the platform of the APC, but alongside some of his councillors, he defected to the ADP to support his father’s ambition.

At the swearing-in of Bello, the commissioner said the ministry, on February 18, received official correspondences from the council’s legislative body announcing the suspension of Mr Alao-Akala.

He said the councillors suspended the chairman for alleged “misconduct and abuse of office”.

Kolade recalled that apart from Alao-Akala, who was then suspended, four other councillors from the same local government were also suspended.

The commissioner named them as: Mr Olawunmi Olutayo, Adeniyi Adekunle, Oladele Sunday and Alagbe Ayodunmade.

He said four others from the neighbouring Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were also affected.

Kolade said: “Other councillors who were suspended from Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA) are: Akande Ranti, Olabode Abiola, Salaudeen Muhammed and Muhammed Yusuf.”

The commissioner presented a letter of authority to Bello, urging him to discharge his duties according to the rules.

Bello promised not to jeopardise the confidence reposed in him.

He also promised to ensure the success of APC in the forthcoming general elections.