An Akure High Court, in Ondo state has declared as unconditional and illegal the creation of the 33 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) by the Ondo State government.
Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye, in his verdict described the LCDAS signed into law by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as inchoate and not lawfully created.
Recall that the leaders of four Akoko local governments including Akoko Southeast, Akoko Southwest, Akoko Northwest, and Akoko Northeast through their lawyer, Mr. Tolu Babaleye, had dragged the state government to court alleging marginalisation in the creation of the LCDA by Akeredolu’s government.
Justice Adebusoye in his judgment agreed with the suit of the Akoko Leaders and held that the creation of the LCDAS did not comply with sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 constitution and that there was no equitable distribution of the council areas among the existing local governments.
Meanwhile, the leaders under the auspices of registered trustees of Akoko Development Initiative (ADI) who filed the suit on behalf of themselves and the people of Akoko land, have hailed the decision of the court to nullify the creation of the LCDAs.
The leaders in a statement signed by the claimants in the suit including former Speaker of State House of Assembly, Hon. Bakitta Bello, Matthew Ofosile, and Lawal Rogbitan said the judgment of the court represented the true position of law and the aspiration of the people of the four local governments of Akoko.
They said that they noticed the lopsidedness in the recommendation from the Executive Council to the State House of Assembly for the creation of the 33 LCDAs, in July 2023, and made representation to the Government in letters addressed to the Governor and the Attorney General to correct the injustice meted to individual Local Government Areas and the entire Akoko Land.
According to them “there was no adjustment made to the error pointed to the Executive Council before it forwarded its recommendation to the Ondo State House of Assembly for legislation.
“Given the protest at the House of Assembly by aggrieved citizens across the State, the House of Assembly adjusted her time-table which was designed to pass the bill in one sitting, to accommodate a hurriedly arranged public hearing on the bill.
Representatives of Local Governments in Akoko presented memoranda at the hearing which was backed up with adequate records and data to assist the House arrive at equitable decisions.
“For instance, Akoko South West which was the largest Local Government Area in the State with 15 wards and two state constituencies had only one LCDA carved out of it while Ose Local Government Area, with one state constituency, had one too.
” In the overall consideration, the Owo ethnic group with originally two Local Government Areas was subdivided into eight LCDAs while Akoko that was originally four Local Government Areas was subdivided into nine LCDAs.
“The fact that both ethnic divisions make up the Ondo North Senatorial district made the arrangement sinister.
“Despite the veracity of the data presented before the House of Assembly to prove the lopsidedness of the LCDA creation, the House went ahead to pass the flawed bill into Law.
“We had no choice as law-abiding citizens of Ondo State, but to approach the Court for redress. Moreso, the bill was signed into Law on the 9th of September, 2023.”
The leaders said they are grateful that the outcome of the case has vindicated their decision to approach the law court for adjudication.
They said that “The Court did not only make informed declarations that support our position, it granted sufficient reliefs to safeguard the aspirations of the Akoko people and indeed, other ethnic groups in Ondo State to coexist with one another in a peaceful environment conducive for even and sustainable development in our political, social, religious and economic life.
“We do not take for granted that justice will come to us on a platter of gold. We are, therefore resolute and determined, to always fight for it, no matter the obstacles that may come and the quarter from which they may emerge.
“We hope that the outcome of this process will serve as a guide to the Government and the people of our Sunshine State in the handling of our public affairs in the future, beginning from now.
“We should understand and implement our statutes for the good of all, without fear or favour, and focus, at all times, on fairness, equity, and justice to build, jointly, the egalitarian society that we deserve.’
