Kwara Assembly putting the cart before the horse – PDP

By Joseph Dasilva

Kwara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has described the invitation of  suspended chairmen of the 16 local government councils in the State for questioning over allegation of misappropriation of public funds as an act of outing the cart before the horse.

In a release Signed by the party Chairman in the state Hon. (Engr.) Kola Shittu, the party, said ” the State Assembly is putting the cart before the horse because this is what it ought to have done before recommending the illegal and provocative suspension of the chairmen, which was swiftly approved by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in a manner that suggests political vendetta.

“We recall our earlier statement wherein we emphasized that it was utterly wrong and undemocratic for the House to have recommended the suspension of the council bosses over cooked-up allegation of financial misappropriation when they had not been properly investigated or invited for questioning.”

The statement added that Inviting the chairmen for questioning after suspending them unlawfully, shows that the lawmakers are confused and lack knowledge of due process.

“Our party holds firm that the suspension of the LG chairmen has no place in a democratic dispensation as neither the House nor the governor has the power to suspend the council chairmen who were lawfully elected by their people.”

“This is particularly as there is a subsisting court order restraining the State Governor nor any of his representatives including the State House of Assembly from suspending or dissolving elected local government chairmen or interfere in their financial activities until the lawful expiration of their tenure in 2020.”

PDP also made reference to similar  Supreme Court verdict that had also declared as illegal and unconstitutional the dissolution of local government councils by State governor and the state assemblies.

It added that both the governor and the lawmakers have overreached themselves by brazenly disregarding a court order and taking action that undermines the nation’s constitution and democracy.

Kola Shittu said in the statement: “We also wonder why the legislature would invite the suspended council chairmen when there is a pending court case against them (lawmakers) and the Governor which was instituted by the chairmen.”

The party also berates the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for mounting serious pressure on the LG chairmen to withdraw the court case, with a promise that they will be allowed to retain their position adding that this, no doubt further exposes the frustration and desperation of the Abdulrahman-led administration.

The party said it believe that this APC government is only out to settle political scores and only using the cosmetic allegation of financial misappropriation as a way of calling a dog bad name in order to hang it.