For sincere and informed people, the reign in Oyo State of Ladoja and Akala as governors under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was reminiscence of Awolowo invasion of Ibadan in an attempt to overthrow his successor; Ladoke Akintola as the Premier of Western region after the former lost his bid to head the National Assembly.
Then Awolowo, Remi Fani-Kayode and their foot soldiers did not allow peace to reign until Ladoke Akintola and his loyalists were gunned down by their rivals in politics. The scenario repeated itself when PDP gained power in Oyo State between 2003 and 2011 as the State was embroiled in ceaseless violence until it lost power in 2011.
Then late Lamidi Adedibu and other PDP stalwarts including former President Olusegun Obasanjo launched, promoted and celebrated criminals and criminality in Oyo State as if the party is a party of miscreants, criminals and killers.
Then blood flowed, families shattered, vision banished, hoodlums crowned with national honours, thieves became heroes and herooine while armed gangs operated with State protection freely.
The bloodletting continued until Ajimobi won election in 2011 under another party. Thereafter, peace and orderliness restored.
The Iwo road which was hideout for criminals quickly became a no-go-zone for the touts terrorising Oyo State until Governor Seyi Makinde retrogressed Oyo to dark days of violence with his romance with hoodlums.
The 2011 victory of Abiola Ajimobi led administration in Oyo State read riot acts to the criminals and the TOKYO-TAWA touts of NURTW went into oblivion. Oyo State then regained peace as the criminals were evicted from their hideouts and served red cards. Unfortunately, Ajimobi ego destroyed his house and “charlatans” later re-grouped and one crowned.
The peace Oyo State enjoined then under Ajimobi has been shattered by the incumbent; Governor Seyi Makinde who has reversed Oyo State geometrically to pre 2011 terror era and keeps telling Oyo indigenes and residents that his administration is for the criminals to thrive.
If Ajimobi had not reigned, one might have forgiven Governor Makinde who always hobnobs, appoints and celebrates criminals for being his best. The elders’ wise saying that show me your friend and I shall tell you who you are is really manifesting in Oyo governor Makinde with evidences that criminals are now in charge of Oyo government.
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Specifically, a High Court in Oyo State in February 2021 ruled which was not appealed that the Federal laws prohibiting private companies, incorporated groups or individuals from collecting dues on behalf of government is illegal.
The judgment read in part:
“That the management and control of motor parks is a local government function as provided for under Section 7 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and that such duty and function can only be performed exclusively by the local governments as listed in the 1999 Constitution.
“The appointment of park managers and collection of rates by the park managers (or any other entity other than the government agency so authorized) on behalf of the respondents from the applicants and its members is illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“That the respondents cannot take over the primary duty of the local government to wit: Park Management and appointments of motor park managers which is exclusively provided for in Section 7 (5) of the 1999 Constitution to be the duty of the local government”
Similarly, Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act 1998 stipulates in these sections:
1.(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, or in any other enactment or law, the Federal Government, State Government and Local Government shall be responsible for collecting the taxes and levies listed in Part I, Part II and Part III of the Schedule to this Act, respectively.
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2.(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, or in any other enactment or law, no person, other than the appropriate tax authority, shall assess or collect, on behalf of the Government, any tax or levy listed in the Schedule to this Act, and members of the Nigeria Police Force shall only be used in accordance with the provisions of the tax laws.
(2) No person, including a tax authority, shall mount a road block in any part of the Federation for the purpose of collecting any tax or levy.
3. A person who –(a) collects or levies any tax or levy; or (b) mounts a road block or causes a road block to be mounted for the purpose of collecting any tax or levy, in contravention of section 2 of this Act, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000 or imprisonment for 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
So, if Governor Makinde has been obedient to laws of Nigeria, what is Park Management System headed by Auxillary doing in Oyo government affairs? I waited till date to see if the governor would announce the disbandment of the outlawed park management system but the Governor keeps the illegality as done to Oyo local government where billions of Naira avoidable debt has now been incurred by our reckless and lawless governor.
If the court and the laws are very clear on the illegality of park management system and the governor is hell-bent on forcing miscreants on Oyo State for his retrogressive agenda, what factor other than distabilization of Oyo state is the target of Seyi Makinde for retaining the illegal and criminal elements working as conduit pipe for the governor to dupe Oyo state through backdoor?
A dutiful governor would not have waisted more time to sack the Auxillary led terror PMS which the governor use to empower the terror networks at the expense of Oyo peace and progress. Killing is now daily in Oyo State and the Governor and his party celebrates that, what for?
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Except a perfidious citizen who doesn’t want peace in Oyo State, can a genuine son of the soil ever allow Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila alias Auxillary to feature in Oyo State affairs? However, the time is ripe to reclaim the State from “charlatans” before the governor completely return the State to era of hooliganism, terror and daily killings in Oyo. Who will save Oyo State from gangs in government house is now the herculean tasks before the good people of Oyo State?
Since Governor Seyi Makinde is known for leading protests as done during ENDSARS and June 12, 2021, I ask when will Governor Seyi Makinde lead protest tagged SEYI MUST GO as his mess is crippling Oyo State rapidly?
Luqman Soliu
Abeokuta, Ogun State
solumsec@gmail.com
