Oyo Govt Suspends Alao-Akala’s Son As LG Chairman

Akala’s Son Suspended For Alleged Abuse Of Office

Oyo State Government yesterday suspended Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Olamijuwonlo Akala, and installed his deputy, Abass Bello in acting capacity.

Olamijuwonlo is the son of a former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, who is currently the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

The purported replacement followed Olamijuwonlo’s suspension on Tuesday, by four, among the nine Councillors in the local government; over what they termed “gross misconduct.”

Olamijuwonlo, who was elected as council chairman, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2018, had, last Thursday, defected to the ADP, with thousands of his supporters in Ogbomoso.

Regardless, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bimbo Kolade, yesterday inaugurated Bello as acting chairman, during a brief ceremony which took place in his office at the Oyo State Government secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.

The ceremony, which was reportedly attended by top government officials and APC chieftains, also witnessed the presentation of Letter of Authority to Bello; by Kolade.

Kolade, who stated that Olamijuwonlo was suspended as the chairman, based on allegations of misconduct and abuse of office, said: “Apart from Alao-Akala who was suspended, four other councillors, including Olawunmi Olutayo, Adeniyi Adekunle , Oladele Sunday and Alagbe Ayodunmade, from the same local government were also suspended.

“Other suspended councillors from Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA) are Akande Ranti, Olabode Abiola, Salaudeen Muhammed and Muhammed Yusuf.”

Bello, in his response, promised to justify the confidence reposed in him, and added that he would ensure electoral victory of APC during the general election.

Sources informed Daily Sun that security has been beefed up at the secretariat of the council. As gathered, five patrol vehicles were sighted at strategic locations in the council secretariat. Also, stern looking uniformed men with arms were said to have been seen at the council’s premises.

But Olamijuwonlo, in a statement, described his suspension as illegal because the councillors who suspended him were yet to be officially inaugurated.

He stated that he was elected by the people of Ogbomoso for three years and that he still remains the chairman of Ogbomoso North.

“I remain the executive chairman of the local government. This is because the suspension is ‘kangaroo,’ with no blessing of the state governor.

“I know the governor is a democrat and will never sanction such unconstitutional move.”