By Adekola Afolabi
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Notable personalities including the Ondo State Chairman of the Pan-Yoruba Social Cultural Organisation, Afenifere, Chief Korede Duyile, have applauded the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his resolve to create 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Other eminent Nigerians who threw their weights behind the Governor’s move are the elder statesman and Afenifere chieftain, Chief Femi Aluko; the state chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ade Adetimehin and the former State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebenezer Alabi.
They particularly commended the state Governor for working to make the process a reality, saying the creation will foster grassroots development and bring governance nearer to the people.
Duyile who is also former Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) said, “I welcome it. It’s long overdue. You know, local government is the closest government to the people at the grassroots. This has been on since 2002 when we were in government during the administration of Chief Adebayo Adefarati, and it was at the same time when Tinubu created his own then as governor of Lagos. It was a general opinion in the South West then. But one thing or the other delayed it and we couldn’t carry it out then.
“But now that is coming up, I welcome it. It will be very beneficial to the State. The only challenge that may arise is the cost of running the local governments, but I believe the government knows how to handle it and ensure judicious utilisation of available resources for the benefit of the LCDAs and development of the grassroots.
“The local people will be encouraged to participate in the governance of their areas, and will also be able to relate with those governing them. The needs of the people will be easily identified and addressed. So, in all, it is a welcome development”.
On his part, Chief Femi Aluko disclosed that, “it is a good development because it will bring government nearer to the people and ensure accountability. We Planned it during the administration of Adefarati and I was a member of the committee then, the late Chief Akerele Adu was the chairman of the planning committee then.
“It’s long overdue but it is better late than never. If you look at Oyo and Osun States you will see that they have created LCDAs for a very long time. But if Governor Akeredolu has done it now is better, that is what is important”.
Also, the former PDP Chairman, Ebenezer Alabi noted that he received the news with mixed feelings.
“One, it is a good idea for grassroots development. It is about the development in the grassroots. But another feeling again is that it is coming at a time when we have little resources. Don’t forget that the allocation that will be coming from the Federal Government will still be based on the 18 Local Government Areas we have, and not 51.
“So, it is the 18 that will be divided by 51. Again, the personnel, the structures of the Local Governments will be replicated in 51 places; we will now have 51 chairmen, vice chairmen, set of councilors, Secretaries, and so on and so forth. So, all these will increase the Recurrent Expenditures of the Local Governments in Ondo state.
“So, I doubt if we have enough resources to fund them in Ondo, unlike Lagos which has enough Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund its own LCDAs then. That is why I’m saying it is coming with mixed feelings.
“It is good provided there will be funds to run them, because there will be 51 development points instead of 18. Development will be very close to the people and that is much appreciated. It is a good development”, the former PDP chairman added.
On his part, the State chairman of APC, Ade Adetimehin, explained that apart from bringing good governance nearer to the people, the LCDAs creation will ensure more participation of the people at the grassroots and in turn engender development.
“More people will show interest in the development of their areas and governance will be more involving. I’m particularly happy to hear this good news. It shows the government is working in line with the policies and programs of our party, APC.
“So, I’m happy the government which we are part of is living up to its promises to the people of the state. So, it is a promised fulfilled and it also makes me fulfilled”, Adetimehin stressed.
