Makinde, Sacked LG Chairmen Settle Rift

Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, and the Local Government Chairmen who were fired on Monday appeared to have cleared their differences as the governor was rumored to have pledged to reimburse their unpaid allowances.

The involvement of Bayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, on his business visit to the Governor’s Office led to this occurrence.

The former head of the Association of Local Governments Chairmen, Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, who was fired by the governor upon taking office, was among the minister’s entourage.

An informed government source said, “Today, peace has been brokered between the state government and the sacked members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria as the governor promised to release the fund immediately.

“The minister, Adelabu, intervened in the crisis, by appealing to the government and representative of the ex-ALGON represented by Aleshinloye to embrace peace. The minister made the intervention on Monday, at the state secretariat during a working visit to the state governor, Makinde.”

The source added that “Adelabu intervened in the matter in a closed-door meeting with the governor and Aleshinloye, in which the governor promised to settle the debt immediately.

“Before they went into a closed-door meeting, some of the governor’s Executive Assistants and some on the minister’s entourage including Olayemi Gbenga, Segun Olalere were sighted as they engaged in discussion while others exchanged banters.

“In the ensuing development, Makinde later proceeded to shake hands and briefly exchange pleasantries with Aleshinloye after the meeting ended on a peaceful note.”