By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
There was a drama at Lagelu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) area of Oyo State as two Caretaker Chairmen laid claim to the council’s Chairmanship seat few days after the inauguration of 55 LG/LCDAs caretaker committee in the state.
New Nigerian investigations revealed that the two embattled caretaker committee Chairmen are Mr. Akeem Aransi and Mr. Abiodun Oladeji .
It was gathered that Akeem Aransi was screened and cleared last Wednesday by the state House of Assembly but was barred from the last Friday inauguration by the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and the police at the governor’s office on “order from above” during the swearing ceremony on Friday, while Abiodun Oladeji only surfaced at the venue and was inaugurated with others by Governor Abiola Ajimobi last Friday.
The drama started when the screened nominee (Akeem Aransi) whose name was allegedly substituted for the chairmanship position of Lagelu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA),resumed office at Olorunda- Abaa headquarters of the council with his supporters to “restore his mandate” as the “authentic” council boss amid jubilation and fanfare.
Sensing the looming crisis, Oladeji said to be the immediate past caretaker committee of Lagelu Local Government area reportedly escaped from the LCDA headquartes to avoid clash by their supporters.
Irked by the development Mr Aransi blamed the inauguration of Oladeji on some political leaders in Lagelu Local Government, alleging one of the APC leaders in area, Chief Kunle Sanda “for single-handedly imposing Oladeji who was not nominated for the post”.
Also, in a petition by Mr Aransi to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, copied Commissioner of Police, DSS Director, Area Commander, Agodi Area Command and signed by Hon. Bashiru Ogundeji (Chairman Ward 14), Alhaji Adegoke (Chairman Ward 5), Chief Adeleke Olalere (Chairman Ward 1) and other leaders of the party in the LCDA, the leaders urged the concern authorities to allow Akeem Aransi who is the authentic nominated and screened candidate to resume work in the council secretariat without further delay.
The petition dated 7th April,titled Protest against self-appointment of Hon. Oladeji Abiodun Peter as the caretaker chairman of Lagelu West Local Council Development Area and its consequent likelihood of breach of public peace” reads “we are by this protest letter appealing to your excellency to order that the authentic candidate whose name was sent to the Oyo State House of Assembly by your Excellency and confirmed by the distinguished legislature in person of Hon Akeem Aransi and whose name appeared as candidate number 52 on the official caretaker chairmen list released (herewith attached), be allowed to assume office as the authentic caretaker chairman of Lagelu West LCDA”.
Hon Aransi in the petition while asked Oladeji to stop parading himself as the chairman of the council vowed to use all the necessary legal macheneries to kick against the imposition.
But the APC leader alleged by Aransi denied having hand in the dropping of Aransi,saying,“it is the governor that makes appointments and he is the one who has right to inaugurate the appointees”.
“You as a journalist, who does the appointment? It is the governor that appoints, am I the one that appointed them, the governor swore them in. Who inaugurated them?
I don’t want to be mentioned in the matter,” he said.
