A former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and former local government administrator, Honourable Ademola Ige, has alleged that the Federal Government is the stumbling block against the attainment of local government autonomy in the country.
Ige, who was twice the chairman, Ibadan South East Local Government Area and also a former Minority Leader in the state’s legislature, made the allegation while featuring on a weekly radio show, ‘Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola, in Ibadan during the week.
Presently the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde, he, however said he is still fully in support of moves to secure autonomy for local administrations in the country.
“It is possible to have local government autonomy in Nigeria. We worked hard to achieve it in the seventh and eighth Assembly but the problem and the stumbling block was the Federal Government.
“They believe in mismanaging the fund meant for the local government, believing that if autonomy is achieved, it will reduce their constitutional power,” he said.
Ige, however, disclosed that “Governor Makinde is fully committed to the issue of local government autonomy because he believes that democracy should be felt at the grassroots level and each local government should function at its maximum level.”
On the current state of the country, the former lawmaker attributed the problems to inept leadership and insincere electorate who he said trade their votes and conscience for money, adding: “I feel so sad and disappointed that Nigeria is still in this situation. Our leaders do not have the love of the people at heart.
“Many of our leaders are not prepared for leadership roles they are being asked to play. Party affiliation is not the problem. Rather it is the people because they make the party.”
He said several activities have been lined up for the celebration of the World Tourism Day in the state, Honourable Ige said Oke-Ogun, under the leadership of Alado of Ado Awaye, Oba Olugbile Ademola Folakemi Makuledoye II.
Among others, he said plans have been concluded by the traditional rulers in Oke Ogun to honour Governor Makinde for his interest and commitment to grassroots development and massive developmental projects around the Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The former lawmaker and local government administrator further stated that he is fully committed to quest for Nigeria to be restructured.
He equally expressed support for the independence of those agitating for the emergence of Yoruba Nation and chided the northern leaders for always supporting and promoting lopsidedness in the sharing of political appointments in the country.
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