Local Governments: Mind Your Business, Oyo PDP Tells AGF, Malami

The Oyo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami that he has not right to meddle into the internal affairs of Oyo state.

The party in a statement issued on Tuesday by its publicity secretary, Akeem Olatunji, while reacting to a letter by the AGF to the Oyo state’s Commissioner for Justice demanding restoration of local government administrations dissolved by the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde said the country cannot be governed by fiat but by the constitution which gave states powers supervision over of local governments.

See statement

“The Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party has described the statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Mallami, as unexpected of the number one legal officer of the Federation.

“Rather than poke nose into the internal affairs of Oyo State, Mr Abubakar Malami should be more concerned about Federal Government’s various disregard of judiciary pronouncements and lack of respect for rule of law.

“Nigeria as a federation is governed by constitution not by a decree fiat and it’s not anybody’s fault that the drafters of Nigerian Constitution put the control, legislation and supervision of the local governments under the purview of the State governments through the various State House of Assemblies.

“What the present Attorney General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami, and his APC cohorts are trying to achieve is purely 2023 political agenda similar to attempt by former Attorney General, Mr Akin Olujimi, SAN, to stop Federal allocations meant for Lagos State through executive fiat.

“I want to reiterate that nowhere in the 1999 Constitution is the President or his agents given the power to withhold funds due to States or Local Government Councils or even the National Judicial Council by virtue of the provision of Section 162 subsection (9) thereof. In other words the President has no supervisory power over the state and the local government councils.

“Nigeria as a country is practising federalism not a Unitary system of government, hence the needs for separation of power and avoid ridiculous action that can jeopardize the image of Nigeria within the comity of Nations.

“Furthermore, the Supreme Court judgement delivered by Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, CJN, on 10th of December 2004 stated clearly that pursuant to section 162 (5) of the Constitution; if the President or any of his agents has any grievances or whatsoever with any tier of government, he should go to court.

“Oyo State PDP as the ruling party is advising APC in Oyo State to look for their savior elsewhere as Mr Abubakar Malami is not constitutional empowered to assist them in foisting illegality on the good people of Oyo State at the grassroots level.

“Hence, the Caretaker Chairmen across the 33 Local Councils and 35 LCDAs are enjoined to face the herculean task before them and disregard the former illegal Chairmen who are merely seeking attention.”