My government ‘ll implement LG autonomy in Oyo state – AA governorship candidate

Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate in Oyo state, Comrade Sikiru Bayo Titilola -Sodo, on Monday said he was ready to start implementation of a local government autonomy in the state if elected in 2027 general elections.

Comrade Titilola -Sodo stated this while featuring at the Guest Forum, organised by the Oyo State Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)

The AA governorship candidate lamented that it was unfortunate that state governors in the country had crippled local government administration despite the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy.

According to Comrade Titilola-Sodo, Section 162 of the Nigeria Constitution allowed three tiers of government- the federal, states and local government – but many governors had failed to recognise it.

“It is unfortunate that despite the fact that the country’s constitution made provision for three tiers of government, coupled with the judgement of the Supreme Court of this Country, many governors in this country had refused to obey the judgement”, he said.

The AA governorship candidate added, ” I was a Special Adviser to  Governor Seyi Makinde on Labour Matters; it’s part of our responsibility to seat and discuss on Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), but this state and many others states of the federation do not allow local governments access to their allocations.

“This does not allow development in virtually 774 local governments of federation.”

Speaking on whether he would step down for the Allied People’s Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi due to the relationship between him and Engineer Seyi Makinde, the AA governorship candidate said he had no such plans.

“I was part of the think-tank that built the government of Makinde; we are very few in number, Bimbo Adekanmbi was not part of us.

Adekanmbi was brought in as a contractor, he was only signing cheques.

“Don’t be surprised that Adekanmbi also worked with Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s government. People don’t know that Ajimobi’s government was not as bad as they thought but, for the roles of somebody like Adekanbi.

“Only Engineer Makinde knows the reason he picked Adekanmbi to succeed him. We that built Makinde government can never support his candidacy for Oyo Government House in 2027. By so doing, I can never step down for him.”

On his plans for education in the state, Comrade Titilola -Sodo promised to re-build the dilapidated building and construct new ones if elected, saying, many primary and secondary schools buildings in the state today were dilapidated.