By Ayodele Oni
Members of the recently constituted local governments caretaker committees in Ondo state are in dilemma as doubts over their membership continues.
The caretaker committees were hurriedly put together before the emergence of the former deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as acting governor by some loyalists of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
On his assumption of office as acting governor, Aiyedatiwa ordered their dissolution, a directive which was again reversed by some of the late Governor’s loyalists.
While this was going on, the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) sought and got a Court injunction restraining the house of Assembly and the ruling party from constituting the care taker committees.
On Wednesday, a statement from the ministry of local government clarified that it was unaware of the existence of any caretaker committee in local councils on the state.
A statement signed by one Alonge Adewale on behalf of the permanent secretary expressed surprise that some persons are still parading themselves as members of the local governments caretaker committees.
The statement 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.
“Furthermore, I have also been asked to request all HOLGAs to retrieve without delay, all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs with these former Caretaker Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and other members and to safely keep them within their respective Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.”
