Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has vowed to conduct elections into the 33 local government areas in the next three and half months, pointing out that the polls will be the final burial of opposition parties in the state.
Speaking, he said the All Progressives Congress would clear all available elective positions at the local government level when the polls are conducted.
Ajimobi made these remarks at the swearing in of newly appointed Chairmen of six local government areas and eight local council development areas.
The affected local councils had remained unoccupied due a litigation challenging the creation of LCDAs which was recently vacated by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Ajimobi remarked that the APC now had the edge in managing political mischiefs and intrigues better to ensure success at elections.
“Let me just quickly remind us that what we are doing today is just what I called the concluding part of our episode in the appointment of caretaker chairmen. It is my hope and wishes and I assure you that after this four months, there will definitely be an election.”
“And I think is in our interest to have an election. One, because we have done well as a party. There is no doubt in my mind that any election that is conducted today or tomorrow we will clear them hundred percent.”
“The second reason being the fact that virtually all the other parties have gone moribund. They are, relatively speaking, dead but let us do an election to bury them. So it is in this context that I solicit the support of all of you that are newly sworn in as caretaker chairmen, knowing the fact that your swearing in was delayed due to legal issue and challenges but we are happy to say that they are now being resolved, they have been resolved.”
“I like to particularly thank the honourable speaker, deputy speaker and all the honourable members of the Oyo State House of Assembly for their commitment and support which again has been manifested here by their presence.”
“We gave them the list a couple of days and immediate they worked on it and they approved them. And the initial ones they rejected was about the challenges of politics but more and more we are becoming gurus and experts in managing mischiefs and intrigues and we thank God that now we have conquered mischiefs and intrigues.”
“We also know very well that the LCDAs and the other ones that we have not appointed people to will be done before the end of this month because I believe that steps are being taken to resolve any outstanding issues as a matter of out of court settlement, if there are still any that are still outstanding, because we have been told that all legal matters are now being resolved. So, if there is still any doubt in any body’s mind, we are clearing it today that we will, and I am repeating it knowing that a gentleman’s word is his honour and we have honour, that we will do election come three and half months from now.
“We will give the notice which is legally and constitutionally required, we will write letters and give them the 90 days that is required and after that there will be elections and I am using this opportunity as well to while congratulating all of you, you are free to run but your success will depend on your performance,” Ajimobi said.
He charged the new the council bosses to deliver the APC’s promises to people at the grassroots.
“You have been carefully selected, not because we like you but because we like what we believe that you can do and deliver. I will like to reiterate that this government is a government for the people by the people and for the people. It is a government of the enlightened for the enlightened and by the enlightened. We have migrated from the government of the unenlightened by the unenlightened and for the unenlightened.
“So, we charge you to do this job well. Your positions are not the position of aggrandizement. You are coming in at a time that is difficult that requires intellectualism and intelligent management of resources. We believe that you will do well.”
The council bosses sworn in include, Adediran Asifu (Irepo LG), Aderemi Adeniyi (Afijio LG), Okeniyi Gbolagade (Atiba LG), Oladeji Olabisi (Oyo West LG), Odekanmi Olayinka (Oriire LG) and Babatunde Adebayo (Oyo East LG).
Others are, Akano Idowu (Asabari LCDA), Ojo Olubayo (Afijio West LCDA), Oyelayo Ajiboye (Soro LCDA), Tiamiyu Taiwo (Oyo South East LCDA) , Jelili Abiola (Oyo South West LCDA), Jacob Bamgboye (Oriire South LCDA), Aransi Akeem (Lagelu West LCDA) and Oriire North LCDA (Sulaimon Olanrewaju).