Oyo Assembly suspends LG chairman over viral video

The Oyo State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Oyo East Local Government Area, Olusola Oluokun, over alleged gross misconduct.

The lawmaker representing Lagelu State Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Akintunde Olajide, presented the motion for the suspension of the chairman on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

The decision of the lawmakers to suspend the chairman was not unconnected to a viral video on social media where Oluokun was seen partially unclothed eating while praising his political godmother and publicly cursing her enemies.

The decision taken during the plenary was seen by the House as a key step in maintaining accountability and decorum by public officers.

The Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, in his brief remarks before approving the suspension, cautioned local government chairmen against arbitrary use of power, especially now that the call for local government autonomy has reached its peak.

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The Speaker said it was wrong for a sitting executive chairman seen as a role model by members of the public to conduct himself in such a manner and warned other chairmen from conducting themselves in a way that discredits the exalted offices they hold.

Rahman Olorunpoto representing Oyo East/West and Gbenga Oyekola representing Atiba State Constituencies pleaded with the House to tamper justice with mercy and have the erring chairman cautioned.

However, other lawmakers kicked against the appeal, stressing that such suspension would serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to act recklessly in public without regard to the offices they hold.

Lamenting the implication of such public conduct, the Speaker ordered the chairman to step aside immediately and hand over to his vice chairman, pending the report of further investigations by the House.

The Speaker also directed the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and report back to the House.

The Star