Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state has sworn-in new local government chairmen and local council development area in the state.
Oyetola lost the governorship election to Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP earlier in July and is expected to leave office in November this year.
Therefore not a few people insist that he should have allowed the incoming administration to conduct the election for local government chairmen.
For instance, while responding to the swearing-in ace musician David Adelele also known as Davido said the new chairmen are just wasting their time, that they will only be in office until November when the Governor-elect, his uncle is expected to take over from Governor Oyetola.
The 69 new council bosses won the election conducted by OSIEC in their respective councils last Saturday. The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC was the only party on the ballot as other political parties boycotted the election in protest.
The state governor has now charged the new chairmen to provide selfless services to their people, urging them to start work immediately.
Speaking during the inauguration of the chairmen, Governor Oyetola said the new council bosses deserved their victory in the election, saying their decision to serve their people is worthwhile.
The governor who spoke at the State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, said the election should have been held before now but was delayed by the Covid 19 pandemic and the socioeconomic challenges facing the state.
Having conducted the election, Oyetola said “our State has now aligned with the practice in other states of the Federation regarding the presidential system of government at the local government level.
“Following the successful conclusion of the debate and the passage of the relevant bill into law, our Administration swung into action by conducting the local government election that produced the elected local chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors-elect.
“The swearing-in today of the elected chairmen and vice chairmen signaled the end of the service of those appointed into caretaker committees at the Local Government levels across the State. Government is appreciative of their services to the State.
“The successful and peaceful resolutions of the issues after robust debates and legislation are a tribute to the resilience of our people and their readiness to go the whole hog to embrace due process and the rule of law no matter the mileage.
“I deeply appreciate our people for their understanding and love for democracy and good governance, which have not only produced a strong and sustainable platform but have also delivered a peaceful and credible election of elected representatives.
“With the passage of the relevant law and today’s inauguration, Osun is fully back to the Presidential System recognized by the Constitution of the nation and its benefits at the Council level”, the governor said.
