Statutory board dissolution: Sacked APC Chieftain threatens to sue Governor Adeleke
…As Osun Commissioner insists Adeleke acted legally
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Following the dissolution of the board and management of Statutory commissions in Osun State, a All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon.Rotimi Makinde has threatened to sue Governor Adeleke.
Hon. Makinde threatened to go to Court should the Governor refuse to call for reinstatement of the sacked officials, including himself who is a member of Osun State Judicial Service Commission.
Makinde in a statement personally signed by him and made available to the media said, “I am really stunned to see that Governor Ademola Adeleke whom I had personal relationship with before he became Governor and who once served as a Senator with better understanding of law making would act in a manner that defies the tenets of the rule of law. Even the President of the Federation didn’t have a record of removing anyone in statutory offices at the Federal level through use of executive fiat.
“The handlers of Mr. Governor ought to have advised and guided him accordingly on how statutory commissions work, how their membership are constituted, their tenure in office, etc. For example, the Judicial Commission where I belong is of 5-year tenure and was just renewed by the immediate past Governor. The dissolution of these Statutory Commissions on Monday by the Governor is a total aberration and must be reversed forthwith.”
Makinde further stressed the importance of “the Governor to heed wise counsel and ensure that things are done in an honorable manner and in tandem with extant rules.
“Meanwhile, tendering of apologies, rescinding decisions or making policy corrections is not new in governance and it isn’t an act of cowardice, it only shows such leadership is matured and has respect for the people, protocol, convention and the grundnorm that govern them to foster cohesion, inclusiveness, peace and progress,” he said.
Speaking further, the statement read, “Indeed, mankind has always had problems with the rule of law but every nation, even if grudgingly, recognises that the rule of law is at the heart of the social contract. Destroy it and you destroy the social contract and the basis for the community of man and the institution of government.
“Individual rulers may abuse it or bend it to their whims and caprices but the rule of law is an open wound. It cannot be ignored because it opens itself to the conscience of political leaders at all levels. The rule of law matters, therefore, Governor Adeleke shouldn’t allow sycophants around him to mislead or make him walk on eggshells.
“Under our laws, the legislature makes the laws and the courts interpret them. If anyone is suspected of breaking the law, the constitution says he must be taken before a judge who will decide his fate. I expect Mr. Governor to toe the line of honor and decency by shifting his ground on this matter otherwise I will approach the court which is the final arbiter to seek redress,” the statement concluded.
However, the Osun State Government on Wednesday said Governor Ademola Adeleke acted within the requirements of the law in dissolving all statutory commissions almost a year after he assumed office.
It would be recalled that the Governor took the decision on Monday, the affected commissions are the State Civil Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission and the Osun State House of Assembly Service Commission respectively.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi said the Governor received the best legal advice before taking the decision, positing that the dissolved commissions suffered legal deficiencies in their making.
According to the Commissioner, the Commissions were set up under “the state of Osun,” a platform already declared illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Alimi affirmed that the appointments were made under a law that has been nullified by a competent Court of law, which, by implication made those beneficiaries lacked the expected claim to immunity from dissolution by a Governor who is upholding only legal actions of the previous government.
“It must also be added that the former Governor violated the stipulations of the law in the composition of some of the boards.
“The law stipulated the types and manners of persons to be appointed into the commissions. By violating those requirements, the appointments were rendered null and void.
“We can therefore assure all and sundry that the state government does not need tutoring from those who hope to benefit from obvious non-compliance perpetrated by the previous government.
“We call on members of the dissolved commissions to accept the best wishes and commendation of the State Governor for their meritorious service to the state,” the statement read.
