Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has warned all the local government caretaker committee members not to be financially reckless.
Adeleke, who sounded this note of warning on Wednesday during the swearing in of local government caretaker committee members at the state government Secretariat, Abere, told them that it was not a time to marry a second wife.
He warned them that anyone found engaging in corrupt practices would be severely sanctioned.
He said, “Very important is the issue of financial discipline. This is not the time to marry a second or third wife. This is a time of financial prudence. Anyone found engaging in corrupt practices will be severely sanctioned.
“Your appointment is part of the process by my administration to kickstart a process that will produce a democratically elected local government system.
“I am directing you to hit the ground running by developing your respective local government areas through developmental initiatives.”
While recalling that his administration came on board at a time of constitutional crisis at the local government level, the Governor lamented that the previous government grossly violated the constitution and the law by conducting local government elections after its defeat.
Insisting that the election was a sham and a waste of billions of taxpayers’ money, Adeleke held that the Oyetola administration did not comply with the specific provisions of the law.
“Our administration adopted legal routes to dismantle the inherited illegality. And as a government committed to upholding the constitution, we have mapped out a sustainable process that will fully restore normalcy to the local government system.
“As you are taking office today, you are to take note of the following :
“You and your team must fashion out a local copy of the five point agenda for implementation in your local government. This will help to deepen the reach and touch of our administration across the State;
“You can also make a difference by developing local development plans for your local areas. This will help to take care of your local peculiarities,” he stated.
Recall that on August 15, 2022, the Adegboyega Oyetola administration conducted a local government election in Osun.
The election, which was boycotted by all the political parties in the State, except the All Progressives Congress, APC, saw the party claiming an overwhelming victory.
However, the Osun Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other parties sought legal redress which was granted by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.
The local government election was declared illegal. This decision made the Ademola Adeleke administration to appoint Council Managers.