PDP Candidate, Ajayi, Fingers Gov. Aiyedatiwa In Court Ruling Over Ondo LCDAs

By Ayodele Oni

Reactions have been trailing the nullification of the 33 newly created Local Council Development Council, (LCDA) in Ondo state by an Akure High Court.

The Court had on Thursday declared unconstitutional the signing of the bill which created the LCDAs outside the state by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as illegal.

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Agboola Ajayi,  condemned an Ondo State High Court which nullified the creation of 33 Local Council Development Areas.

Ajayi said the judgment was anti-people and would hinder development of Ondo Communities.

Ajayi, who accused the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of backing the suit, said the people preferred a government that is close to them.

He said Governor Aiyedatiwa also filed a suit against Local Government Autonomy.

His words, “The judgment is anti-people. It will be promoting an agenda that will hinder rapid development of the communities.

“The Ondo State government is behind the suit. They must appeal the judgment. The suit filed by the PDP was not to totalling abrogate the LCDAs but illegal inauguration of Caretake Chairman.

Plaintiffs in the suit, Akoko Development Initiatives, on behalf of others in a statement explained that “The people of Akoko, having noticed the lopsidedness in the recommendation from the Executive Council to the State House of Assembly for the creation of the 33 LCDAs, in July, 2023, made representation to Government in letters addressed to the Governor and the Attorney General to correct the injustice meted to individual Local Government Areas and the entire AkokoLand.

“No adjustment was made to the error we pointed out before the damaging recommendation was forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly for legislation.

“In view of the protest at the House of Assembly by aggrieved citizens across the State, the House of Assembly adjusted its time-table which was designed to pass the bill in one sitting, to accommodate a hurriedly arranged public hearing on the bill.

“Representatives of Local Governments in Akoko presented memoranda at the hearing which were backed up with adequate records and data to assist the House arrive at equitable decisions.

“For instance, Akoko South West which was the largest Local Government Area in the State with 15 wards and 2 state constituencies had only one LCDA carved out of it, while Ose Local Government Area, with one state constituency had one too.

“In the overall consideration, the Owo ethnic group with originally 2 Local Government Areas was subdivided into 8 LCDAs, while Akoko that was originally 4 Local Government Areas was subdivided into 9 LCDAs.

“The fact that both ethnic divisions make up the Ondo North Senatorial district made the arrangement sinister.

“In spite of the veracity of the data presented before the House of Assembly to prove the lopsidedness of the LCDA creation, the House went ahead to pass the flawed bill into Law.

“We had no choice as law abiding citizens of Ondo State, than to approach the Court for redress. Moreso, the bill was signed into Law on the 9th of September, 2023.”