Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Following the successful completion of the Osun State local government election last Saturday, the state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated the elected council chairmen in all the 69 local government areas, Local Council Development Areas, Area Councils and Area Offices in the state.
This is even as the governor tasked them to hit the ground running by providing adequate, quality and equitable services on a consistent basis.
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) had last Saturday conducted the local government election across the state.
Inaugurating the newly- elected chairmen at the Governor’s Office, at Abere, Osogbo, Oyetola said the journey to the election was a long and worthwhile one.
He said the delay in the conduct of the election was as a result of plethora of socioeconomic and political uncertainties.
Oyetola noted that the local government election could not come earlier considering the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences on governance, saying the pandemic was a major setback in the pace of governance for several months.
The governor further noted that the long debate over transition from parliamentary system of government at the grassroots to presidential form of government and the need for the passage of relevant laws by the House of Assembly to support the agreed form of government before electing the next elected representatives contributed significantly to the need to have the election as at the time it was held.
According to him, “The political uncertainties posed by the transition and the need to prevent a vacuum necessitated the institution of caretakers at the Local Government level, adding that the Caretaker Committee was therefore a child of necessity for getting the political equation right once and for all.
“So, today, 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 signalled 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.”
He added: “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 State is fully back to the presidential system recognised by the constitution and its benefits at the council level.”
Charging the newly-inaugurated council chairmen to be magnanimous in victory, Oyetola said it was incumbent on them to take a cue from his government’s penchant for prompt and proactive service delivery.
The governor said: “You have all engaged in political contests and won the mandates of your people. You must reciprocate the gestures of the people by fulfilling your promises to them. This is a duty to the people, our party, democracy and good governance that must be fulfilled.
“I charge you all to be magnanimous in victory by extending hands of fellowship to your political opponents. It is the best way to harness our resources and our shared values for our collective good.”
