From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Osun State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, ordered that a status quo should remain on the issue of Local Government Administration pending the determination of the court.
The assembly also congratulated the newly sworn-in Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Governor Adeleke had ordered the newly elected chairmen and secretaries to vacate the Local Government following the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, that sacked them.
But, the Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, informed the plenary of a notice of appeal against the decision of the court that has been served on the assembly.
He responded to recent events in the state, saying the legislative arm is saddled with the responsibility of law-making, only disagreeing with the Governor on matters of law-making.
Owoeye while briefing members of the assembly on the outcome of the private meeting he held with Governor Adeleke on Tuesday stated that there now exists a mutual understanding that the house will be carried along on matters that concern the legislature.
The Speaker in a statement by his Press Secretary, Kunle Alabi held that the position of the House of Assembly was purely from the point of law and not in any way antagonizing the Executive arm of government, saying the position from point of law was also related to the Governor at the meeting.
The House thereby resolves that the issue of Local Government administration should be left to the court of law, ordering a status quo on all Local Government administration pending the exhaustion of all legal means.
Owoeye while thanking his colleagues for their service and steadfastness to the State said “this is the Osun State House of Assembly, anything we are doing has to be to the development and progress of this state. We have not done anything wrong or foul of the law.
“As an institution, we x-ray and scan whatever we disseminate because as far as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned, we are performing legislative duties and our functions as legislators.
“When Aregbesola took over the mantle of leadership in 2010, the PDP-controlled local government was still in place and the status quo remained. Nobody dissolves the local government until all legal processes were completed,” Owoeye added.
