House of Assembly Suspends Local govt Chairman
The Oyo State House of Assembly has announced immediate suspension of the Executive Chairman of Oyo East Local Government Area, Hon. Olusola Oluokun, following allegations of gross misconduct which has brought disrepute to his office.
Honorable Akintunde Olajide representing Lagelu state Constituency and chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters presented the motion for the recommendation of the suspension of Hon. Oluokun.
The house based its decision on a viral video that circulated on social media, where Oluokun was allegedly seen partially unclothed, eating while praising Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, who is widely seen as his godmother and instrumental to his election as the chairman, while alao cursing her enemies.
The decision, made during a plenary session on Thursday, is seen by the House as a key step in maintaining accountability within local governance.
The Speaker, Rt. Honorable Adebo Ogundoyin, in his brief remarks before approving the suspension cautioned local government executive chairmen against arbitrary use of power especially now that the call for local government autonomy has reached its peak.
The Speaker noted that it was wrong for a sitting executive chairman seen as a role model by members of the public to conduct himself in such manner and warned other chairmen from conducting themselves in a way that discredits the exalted offices they hold.
Honorables Rahman Olorunpoto representing Oyo east/west and Gbenga Oyekola representing Atiba state constituencies pleaded with the house to tamper justice with mercy and have the erring chairman cautioned against conducting himself in such manner subsequently.
However, other lawmakers kicked against the appeal stressing that such suspension will serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to act recklessly in public without regards to the offices they hold.
Lamenting the implication of such public conduct, the Speaker ordered the Executive Chairman, Hon. olusola Oluokun to step aside immediately and handover to his vice chairman pending the report of further investigations by the House.
The Speaker also directed the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to conduct a thorough investigation on the allegations and report back to the House.
