The Attorney General of Ondo State, Dr Olukayode Ajulo on Thursday justified the appointment of Transition Committees for 18 Local Government Areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas.
Ajulo, who was responding to the press statement issued by the Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), clarified that the appointment of Transition Committees was a lawful exercise of the Governor’s constitutional powers.
“The Committees are intended to ensure seamless transition and continuity of government business in the affected areas.
“The judgment of Hon Justice A.O Adebusuoye on 20th June, 2024, only declared the Local Government Creation Law 2023 unconstitutional, but did not invalidate the executive and administrative powers of the Governor of Ondo State to take steps that will ensure effective and good governance of any part of the State.
“The legality of the LCDAs is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, which are presently under appeal. The court has taken notice of this appeal. Therefore, the Governor’s appointment of Transition Committees is not in contempt of the court’s judgment, but rather a prudent action to ensure that the business of government continues uninterrupted in the affected areas.
“I urge the PDP to respect the rule of law and allow the legal process to run its full course, rather than resorting to inflammatory rhetoric. The Ondo State Government remains committed to upholding the laws of the land and ensuring good governance for all citizens,” Ajulo’s statement read.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday called for the immediate resignation of Dr Kayode Ajulo, as attorney general.
The PDP through Mr Kennedy Peretei, its State Publicity Secretary, noted that the call for Ajulo’s immediate resignation was for violating his oath of office.
The party observed that Ajulo in a press statement on Thursday opined that the appointment of Transition Committees for 18 Local Governments and 33 Local Council Development Areas was the Constitutional right of the Governor without citing any portion of the Constitution where he derived such powers from.
“If a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is expected to know the laws of our land is the person urging Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa to trample on our Constitution and Supreme Court pronouncement, then, he no longer deserves to serve as the Chief Law Officer of the State.
“In a landmark judgment on Thursday, 11th July, 2024, a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared that democratically elected Local Government was sacrosanct and non-negotiable. Justice Emmanuel Agim who delivered the judgment, said ” State governments are perpetuating a dangerous trend by refusing to allow democratically elected Local Government Councils to function, instead appointing their loyalists who can only be removed by them”.
“It is very unfortunate that, Ajulo tried in vain to legitimise the illegality of his Governor the same day the Supreme Court made the declaration. The apex Court in Nigeria has spoken and the Attorney General is saying something different. Which Constitution was Ajulo referring to as authority for appointing the Transition Committees? You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand.
“Our party wishes to advise those appointed into these offices not to allow themselves to be used. Because every kobo they spend in these phantom offices will be legally recovered from them.
“Since Kayode Ajulo, SAN is incapable of advising the Governor according to law, he is advised to resign immediately,” the PDP statement read.
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