By Ayodele Oni
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has foreclosed the hope of reappointing the 255 former local governments caretaker members earlier sacked by Court order.
The affected caretaker members were hurriedly put together by some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) without the input of Aiyedatiwa while serving as acting governor of the state.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had gone to court to challenge their appointments and the court ruled in their favour.
Some members of the APC loyal to late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of being behind the sack of the caretaker members.
The Governor told them on Monday that government will soon constitute another transition committees for the 18 Local Government Areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas before the coming local government elections in the State.
Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed this during a meeting with the former members of Caretaker Committees of the LGAs and LCDAs at the Governor’s Office in Akure.
The Governor also disclosed that his administration does not have plans to abolish the recently created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
According to the Governor, the creation of the LCDAs is one of the legacies of the late former Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, which must be preserved.
The Governor told the 255 former appointees that the case instituted in court by the opposition party and subsequent court injunction had prevented their inauguration and assumption of office.
The Governor said efforts were being intensified to resolve the court case through a political solution which has been granted by the court.
He added that once the case is finally withdrawn from the court, all the errors made in the composition of the list of the appointees would be corrected and transition committees will be inaugurated.
The Governor urged the former appointees to demonstrate more commitment to the party within their respective local government areas.
“It is important for us to come together as one big family for the progress of the APC and the development of our State,” he said, stressing that there is no division in the party’s leadership.
The State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, echoed the governor’s words of unity in the party, commending the Governor for the interface with the party members.
Mr Olaniyi Gbenga and Mrs. Funke Kumuyi, who spoke on behalf of the former appointees, thanked the Governor the interface and pledged their loyalty and support for his administration.
