The Daily Crucible had about a week ago reported that lingering crisis between the legislative and executive arms of Abeokuta North LGA took a worsening dimension with the councillors slamming Ayorinde with a 3 – month suspension from office.
The councillors premised the suspension of the embattled LGA boss on allegations of fraud, routine absenteeism from office and acts of obstructing the the legislative council from performing its statutory functions.
The resolute councillors who wrote the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Kunle Oluomo, about the development, also identified the chairman ‘s other alleged infraction as “gross misconduct.”
Ayorinde’s suspension followed part of the resolutions reached by the Council’s legislators at the end of their plenary session at the Legislative Chamber of the local government earlier today.
In a “Notice Of Allegations Of Misconduct” duly signed by 10 Council Lawmakers from the four (4) communities in the Local Government Area, the council’s Executive Chairman was accused of commiting four punishable offences which also bothered on high handedness and fraud and thereby contravening Sections 209; 52 (c) and (i) of the Local Governments’ Law of Ogun State.
In the said notice, which was presented before the Abeokuta North Local Government’s House by Hon. Akinbami Mutiu, the Councillor representing ward 6, the Executive Chairman was said to have “surreptitiously sold” a 512 acres of land which is an asset of the Local Government to a privated estate company under the guise of Private Public Partnership arrangements without remitting the proceeds to the Council’s purse.
Ayorinde was also accused of bluntly refusing to carry out the needed repairs on the legislative bus to enable the lawmakers perform their oversight functions in the last 22 months.
They also claimed that the chairman refused to provide electricity generating set for the legislative arm of the council to enable it function effectively.
“Zero budget allocation to the office of the House Leader; zero level of accountability and transparency by not rendering to the Council for consideration and debate, monthly statements of income and expenditures as stipulated by Section 52 (c) of the Local Governments’Law of Ogun State,” the resolution reads in part.
The 3-months suspension slammed on Ayorinde by the lawmakers however, followed a motion moved by the lawmakers representing Ward 6, Hon. Akinbami Abiodun Mutiu, after which the entire lawmakers had passed a “Vote of No Confidence” on the chairman, consequent upon a voice vote conducted by the House Leader, Hon. Sikiru Sanni.
“In spite of the above notice of misconduct, I urge this honorable House to speedily transmit a copy of this notice to the appropriate quarters including the office of Mr. Governor for a fair and equitable process of impeachment as enshrined in Section 37 (subsection 1-11) of the local government law of ogun State.
Consequently, the legislators ordered that the chairman hands over all the council’s property at his possession to Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. Ayoola Oluajo forthwith.
The lawmakers however, forwarded copies of their resolutions at the sitting to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly (OGHA), Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo and heads of all the security agencies.
Meanwhile, Hon. Adebayo AbdulSalam Ayorinde, had described his suspension earlier last week by the Council’s councillors as an “exercise in futility.”
Hon. Ayorinde dismissed all the allegations against him as “outright lies.”
Refuting the accusations through
Hon. Yusuf Adekunle Kusimo of the Ayorinde Media Office in a statement to The Daily Crucible, the chairman declared that he was never involved in the selling of the local government assets given his clear understanding of the fundamentals of due process, stressing that he would therefore not do anything capable of tarnishing his cherished reputation built over the years.
He reiterated his commitment to the wholesome growth of Abeokuta North local government, and reckoned the purported suspension as an action that betrayed the ignorance and desperation of the signatories to it.
The chairman ‘s reaction in full reads”The Media office of Hon. Adebayo AbdulSalam Ayorinde, the Executive Chairman of Abeokuta North LG has been inundated with the news of purported suspension of our principal by some members of the Council’s legislative assembly.
We wish to react as follows;
That there is no basis for suspension of our Principal seeing as the whole allegation is predicated on outright lies. The Chairman was never invited for questioning before the supposed suspension was carried out. Again, to suspend the Chairman, 2/3 majority of the house would have to assent to the move. In this case, only 10 members out of 16 members hurriedly signed the ill-advised suspension letter, showing how ill -equipped they are for the legislative business. Besides, no one brought the supposed letter to the Chairman’s office.
That Hon. Ayorinde is not involved in the selling of the local government assets. As a learned and very exposed man, he understands the fundamentals of due process, and would therefore not do anything that would tarnish the reputation he has worked hard for.
That allegations of absence from office are also baseless and unfounded. The Chairman is never absent from office. However, anytime he is due for his medical leave, he writes to the appropriate quarters before travelling.
That the administration of Abeokuta North Local Government has witnessed unprecedented transparency and accountability under the leadership of Hon. Ayorinde. Many can bear witness to this.
More importantly, Hon. Ayorinde has never obstructed the legislative assembly from performing their duties. He is too refined for that. Our principal constantly supports the legislative council to ensure they perform at their optimum best. He also sponsors them on oversight functions to ensure they are not Councilors roaming the streets who are not productively engaged.
We hereby state categorically that the purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it shows the ignorance and desperation of the signatories.
We advise the good people of Abeokuta North and the general public to ignore the news of the purported suspension as the real sponsors behind the plot would be unmasked real soon.
Hon. Ayorinde remains committed to the wholesome growth of Abeokuta North local government.”
