The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has vowed to return to power in 2027, saying the Governor Makinde-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has crippled the local government administration in the state with the consequence of poor grassroots development.
The party also throw its weight behind the local government autonomy granted by the Supreme Court, which is a pointer to the local government development in the country.
This declaration was made the former APC local government Chairmen and Councillors sacked by Governor Seyi Makinde under the platform of Forum 68 during a get-together and media talk at ALGON building, Ring Road, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Forum 68 consisting of 68 ex-local government Chairmen, 68 ex-Vice Chairmen and 610 Councilors, which is a convergence point of unity and peace building to reckon with to make sure that the APC is stronger and ready to return to power at both local government and state levels of governance.
Speaking through the Chairman, Forum 68, Ayodele Abass-Aleshinloye, said through the struggle of regaining their positions after unjustly sacked by Governor Makinde, the goodwill of the general public in this respect has been tremendously encouraging.
While lamenting the demise of some of their members during the struggle of regaining their positions, Abass-Aleshinloye disclosed that they have lost 27 of their members including four chairmen, four vice chairmen and 19 councillors.
According to him, “Forum 68 has continued to offer constructive opposition and useful advice when necessary to the state government and local councils on democratic local government administration and grassroots development to move Oyo State forward. This we do through our consistent media engaments on the state of our pace setter State, speeches, suggestions, contacts, and dialogue at public fora, local government areas and at the state level.
Advertisement
“The two years of thorough, historic legal battle, political struggles between conscienceless power and powerless conscience has become a reference point in the nation’s jurisprudence, democratic local government autonomy for the enhancement of grassroots development.
“We, once again, appreciate sincerely our teams of erudite counsels for their excellent job done. The impeccable justices of the Supreme Court. Thanks to the unbiased media practitioners for keeping tabs on the case and always putting it on the front burner in their news reportage and features. We are grateful to our party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The victory belonged to the grassroots people of Oyo state who stood firmly by us throughout the legal and political battles because of what we always stand for as grassroots developers and defenders of democratic rights and local government autonomy.
“From the time we left the office and now, people can see the difference and the difference is very clear. We dedicated the unique victory to our late leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. May his soul continue to rest in peace.
“We promise you all and the rank and file members and the general public that we won’t disappoint you, we are capable to victoriously meet the task ahead. Nothing can be compared with solid broad political base, valuable experience gained over the years in critical areas of administration, grassroots democracy, contacts and development.
“We fully support local government autonomy as fundamental necessity to grassroots development and national development. But our people should not see the recently granted autonomy by the Supreme Court in the case of the FGN vs State Governments as a mere government to government affair.
“It’s a call to duty, for more popular participation by the people to guarantee free and fair elections, allocations and budget monitoring, projects choice, projects implemention monitoring. This is to make sure that transparency, integrity and accountability are not compromised”.
