By Felix Kuyinu
A group, Civil Society for Total Democracy, CSTD, has criticized the Lagos State House of Assembly over alledged attempts to undermine the Supreme Court’s local government autonomy.
The pro-democracy movement organization stated that the lawmakers are thwarting the rulling of the apex court, thereby, obstructing the provisions of the ruling.
CSTD, in a press conference during the weekend, disclosed that any attempt to go against the court’s judgement will be met with stiff resistance.
The group convener, Opeyemi Ogunlami, said that CSTD supports the rulling, thereby, calling on the state’s National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, to rise and defend the autonomy judgement.
Ogunlami also called on the local government administrations in the state to rise and take charge of politics and finances in their communities.
The association, in a statement noted: “Enough is enough of those days when the local government is a tool of fund swindling and money laundering by the state government and such cabals who deprive the people of democratic participation at the local levels.
“The Supreme Court judgement is a victory for the people to assert governance from below, and this must never be arm-twisted by any forces, whether it is the state government or the state House of Assembly.”
“The Lagos State people should start preparing to vote in new parties that truly understand and are committed to political participation and democracy at the grassroots.”
It added: “The CSTD is one of the only gatherings of revolutionary parties and groups that truly believe in the ideals of governance from below.
“We are the only formation where you can find groups that believe that governance must be responsible to all the people, from streets to towns, and to all levels.
“We stand against any attempts to stifle the local governments administratively and financially. We also stand for administrative and financial transparency at the local councils, thereby asking for more popular participation by Alimosho and Lagos State people in general in the activities and affairs of the local councils.
“We all must rally together to defend the democratic ideals and the advantages in the July 11th Supreme Court judgement asserting the autonomy of the local governments.
“We are watching the situation at Alimosho Local Government, and we want to say that the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any constitutional rights to suspend the chairman.
“According to the Justice Garba Lawal-led Supreme Court judgement of July 11, 2024, the local government has been granted full administrative and financial autonomy.
“This means that the Lagos State House of Assembly is acting illegally in interfering in the affairs of the Alimosho Local Government. It is only the Assembly of Councillors that has the right to suspend the Alimosho Chairman.
“Meanwhile, as a group of pro-democracy movements that are outrightly against corruption in government, we urge the Lagos State House of Assembly to make public evidence of corruption as it alleged against the Alimosho Local Government chairman.
“We are interested in these allegations, and our members in Alimosho are ready to take up the LG Chairman. This is why we call on the Lagos State House of Assembly to fulfil its responsibility to the public by exposing the evidence of corruption as it has alleged against the Alimosho Local Government chairman.”
“Relevant anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission, ICPC, should look into the allegations and counter-allegations by both the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Alimosho Local Government Chairman.
“The people of Lagos deserve to see evidence of the several corrupt activities of the Alimosho Local Government Chairman as alleged by the Obasa-led House of Assembly.”