Politics

BREAKING: Councillors impeach suspended Ijebu East Local Govt boss

Published

1 week ago

September 14, 2023

Dapo Abiodun and Wale Adedayo

BREAKING: Councillors impeach suspended Ijebu East Local Govt boss

The councillors of Ijebu East Local Government of Ogun State on Thursday impeached the suspended Chairman of the local government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, over allegations of financial misappropriation and diversion of council funds, among other allegations made against him.

This was according to a statement by the Leader of the Legislative Council of the local government, Hon Fasheyi Akindele.

He said the embattled council boss was suspended after he owned up to allegations levelled against him.

The statement reads “The councillors of Ijebu East Local Government of Ogun State earlier today impeached the suspended Chairman of the local government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, over allegations of financial misappropriation and diversion of council funds, among other allegations made against him.

“After a series of invitations by the House, which were ignored in the past, Adedayo eventually appeared before the legislative council today as the councillors continued their probe of the chairman.

“The suspended Chairman owned up before the full house of 11 councillors that he diverted Federal allocations sent to the Council by the State Government and used them for purposes other than what the State Government approved.

“Adedayo also agreed that he spent the Council funds till August 2023, even when the budget was yet to be approved, whereas the laws only allow him to spend till March 2023.

“Adedayo also opened up that he used N5.2 million to produce 20 pieces of chairs and tables instead of the 290 chairs that the money was meant for as approved by the state government.

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“On the issue of illegal levies and strikers to commercial transport operators in the local government, Adedayo said he thought the House had passed the Bill to that effect, but the Leader of the House reminded him that a bill if passed by the House, would have been jointly signed by the Leader of the House and the Council Chairman.

“That the chairman has run foul of the laws of the land, specifically the Ogun State Local Government Laws 2006 and committed serious impeachable offences was therefore established.
After about three hours of deliberation, the impeachment of the Chairman was put to vote. Five councillors voted for his impeachment, four voted against, with one abstention

“Therefore, the Leader of the House pronounced Mr. Wale Adedayo impeached as the Chairman of Ijebu East LG.”

Adedayo had earlier in the morning appeared before the legislators of the local government to defend the allegation of financial misappropriation and maladministration levelled against him

Our Correspondent gathered Adedayo who arrived at the local government secretariat in the company of his two aides at about 7:47am was called in to appear before the councillors around 10:22am and came out around 12:02pm

The councillors were said to have been brought into the local government in a white Coaster civilian bus with Reg Num OGUN AH 782 DED guarded by the police in a white Toyota Hilux patrol van.

At least about 40 security officers drawn from the police, the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were said to have been on the ground to maintain law and order.

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Adedayo, while speaking on his appearance before the councillors, said he was not fighting any personal cause with the government in power in the state, but fighting for the good people of the local government.

Adedayo said, “I was at Ogbere this morning to honour the invitation of the Legislative Council. I did not go in with any documents. I referred them to all files in the office to guide them in the investigation.

“I’m aware they were being sponsored from Abeokuta, but they denied it. The bus that brought them into the council secretariat is from Abeokuta, it belongs to the state government. I don’t have any issue with that.

“I told them to be thorough in their investigation because posterity will judge each and every one of us. I am not fighting for myself. I am doing this in the interest of Ijebu East Local Government.”

“Meanwhile, I got information now that after I left the place, the Leader of the House pushed a motion for impeachment. Five of the Councillors along with the Leader supported the motion.

“I told them this morning they were acting a script written by those in Abeokuta. All the documents about the allegations against me are in the office. But I know Mr. Governor is offended that we opened up to the public about how the Federal Allocation belonging to Ijebu East Local Government was being spent.

“I have done my duty as an Afenifere by letting our Leader know why we have not been able to do much since we got into office. The rest is for the court to decide.”

Related Topics:Councillors Featured Ijebu East

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I’m under pressure to share money or risk second term – Akwa Ibom Governor

Published

9 hours ago

September 24, 2023

Trends Admin

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State

I’m under pressure to share money or risk second term – Akwa Ibom Governor

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has said he is under intense pressure and threat by the political class to share money or risk forfeiting his second term.

Addressing newsmen in Uyo at the weekend, Eno, appealed against distraction from politicians, saying he was on a mission to address the challenges confronting the common people under the rural development programmes as enunciated in the ‘Arise Agenda’ blueprint of his administration.

“I have received lot of threats from the political class that I won’t do second term. I am putting money in rural development because a good first term is better than a useless second term.

I don’t want to put more money in one person’s hands to the detriment of the 7.9 million population,” he said.

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Urging politicians to exercise patience by giving him time till December to put the governance structure on the right footing, Governor Eno noted that the challenge of youth unemployment was a clear and present danger that must be settled for the already rich politicians to be at peace, adding that if the restive youths are not properly handled, rich politicians would not enjoy their wealth in peace.

He, therefore, stressed the need to create jobs for youths at the grassroots level for them to be meaningfully engaged in order to curb rural-urban migration, which he said, informed his decision to impress it on the House of Assembly to enact the law compelling local government chairmen to relocate from Uyo, the state capital, to their council areas in order to engage the youth in meaningful ventures and oversee grassroots development.

On the allegation by a section of the media of paying N20 million monthly to his political mentor and former governor Udom Emmanuel, the governor described it as a “blatant lie” deliberately orchestrated to inflame the polity so as to put him at loggerheads with his political godfather.

He wondered why people should resort to blackmail and insult on former leaders of the state who had contributed in no small measure to elevate the state to its current level.

I’m under pressure to share money or risk second term – Akwa Ibom Governor

Politics

Amosun’s men return to APC after 5 years, team up with Abiodun

Published

18 hours ago

September 24, 2023

Trends Admin

Amosun’s men return to APC after 5 years, team up with Abiodun

Loyalists of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun have returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State and teamed up with the Governor Dapo Abiodun’s faction of the ruling party.

The development is coming after about five years of political infighting between Abiodun and Amosun.

They were led into a meeting by a former Chairman of the APC, Derin Adebiyi, whose tenure was dissolved in 2019 by the truncated Adams Oshiomhole-led APC National Working Committee, for alleged anti-party activities.

Our correspondent gathered that the politicians have Amosun’s blessing to return to the ruling party, having left the APC for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) during the 2023 governorship election.

Amosun had during the election refused to support Abiodun, as he sponsored Biyi Otegbeye to contest against the incumbent in the ADC.

Abiodun received Amosun’s men at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, on Friday.

The governor said: “I want to congratulate your sense of loyalty to leadership, which I will say is not only commendable, it is enviable.

“This is a culture that we must promote and entrench. It is a culture that is fast eroding; it is a culture that we are fast losing. Loyalty is 100 percent.

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“For some others, they move once things are not working well, but for you, you stay put. This sense of loyalty is worthy of emulation. We must appreciate the fact that there can only be one leader in a party at a time.

“Even when we have ambitions and desires, we must subordinate ourselves 100% to leadership and believe that it is in that subordination that will allow us to flourish and achieve our objectives, our dreams, our desires and aspirations, not by forming factions or by breaking away.

“Because by so doing, it only weakens the fabric of that collective union that we call our party. You must appreciate that there can be only one leader of the party at a time in the state, and that leader is the governor.

“As the leader of the party, I appreciate the task bestowed on me and it is my duty to work towards individual and collective welfare of our members,” the governor noted.

The governor urged all members to put the past behind them and work towards repositioning the party to achieve its aims and work for the socio-economic development of the state.

“Let us the past behind us. Let us promote what unites us as a family. I welcome you back. The future of Ogun State is in your hands and it is for us for the taking. The same joy the father of the prodigal son received his lost son back home, the same way I receive you today.

“To those who did not leave, please let us receive our brothers and sisters back. To those who are joining us, please let us display a sense of loyalty. I can assure you, you will be fully integrated. ”

The State Chairman of APC, Yemi Sanusi, said in every human relationship, there is bound to be disagreement, adding that even in time of war, there is always a place for peaceful settlement of conflict, calling the returnees to fully integrated themselves with other members of the party.

Leader of the returnees, Adebiyi said they have all agreed to return to the mainstream to contribute to the development of the party and the State in general, thanking the governor and the party members for receiving them back.

Amosun’s men return to APC after 5 years, team up with Abiodun

Politics

JUST IN: Benue Governor floors PDP at tribunal, appreciates residents

Published

1 day ago

September 23, 2023

Trends Admin

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia

JUST IN: Benue Governor floors PDP at tribunal, appreciates residents

The Benue State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi Saturday dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Titus Uba, seeking the nullification of the election of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had announced Alia winner of the poll with 473,933 votes.

Uba came second with 223,913 votes.

Dissatisfied with the results declared by INEC, the PDP asked the Tribunal to nullify the election of the governor on the grounds of invalid nomination and sponsorship by his party.

But in its verdict on Saturday, the three-man panel chaired by Justice Ibrahim Karayeup held Alia’s election.

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The tribunal held that issues raised by Titus Uba were pre-election matters that ought to have begun at the Federal High Court within the stipulated time frame.

Reacting to the judgment on Saturday, the governor appreciated the people of Benue state for voting for him.

He promised not to let them down.

“Governor Alia rededicates himself to the service of the people and the strengthening of democratic values across the state.

“He appreciates and recognizes the fact that his victory is that of the people to whom sovereignty and power truly belongs.

“He enjoins all and sundry including members of the opposition to put their hands on deck and ensure that the state is moved to very heights of greatness away from the current mess of misery, poverty and maladministration,” the governor said, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Tersoo Kula.