Kunle Adelabu & Wale Jagun
-Party is supreme, Councilors’ lives not threatened – Hon. Ademehin
-N723million allocation from federation account, undisclosed IGR sum misappropriated in 31 months – Councilors allege
The crisis between the Chairman of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. (Princess) Jumoke Jimbo-Ademehin and the Legislative arm is far from been over despite the interventions and efforts of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State and Council levels to resolve the matter politically.
While the embattled chairman is saying that the party decision is supreme and that the legislators should accept the party’s decision, the Councilors, who claimed that they are presently in exile in neighbouring countries due to threats to their lives, are maintaining their grounds that the chairman remain impeached based on allegations of lack of projects execution since the inception of her administration, mismanagement of council funds, refusal to pay the entitlements due to the Councilors among others.
To prove that they are not backing down, the aggrieved Councilors have come with fresh accusation that Hon. Ademehin mis-appropriated about N723million accrued from the Federation Account as monthly allocations to the council and undisclosed Internally Generated Revenue for the council in the last 31 months.
As reported by THE IMPACT on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, that the State party chairman, Chief Tunde Balogun, and APC Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Alhaji Olaitan, called the council chairman and aggrieved councilors for a meeting, it was gathered that the meeting, which was held on Wednesday at the state secretariat of the ruling party, was unable to resolve the matter as the Councilors insisted on the resolution reached on Monday, March 9, 2020.
Hon. Adebowale Kalejaiye, while speaking on behalf of other councilors, categorically stated in a chat with our reporter that, “We haven’t back down, Hon. Princess Ganiyat Olajumoke remains IMPEACHED”.
Speaking with our reporter on phone, the Ikorodu West LCDA, Alhaji Olaitan confirmed the meeting with the embattled chairman and aggrieved councilors and stated that all the issues have been resolved.
“We were all together on Wednesday and everything has been resolved.”
When told that the councilors at the meeting insisted that the chairman remain impeached, Alhaji Olaitan directed our reporter to the State party chairman for further clarification.
“That’s all I can tell you and if you want to know more, please, contact the state chairman. Thank you”, he said.
Embattled Chairman’s Reaction:
After several calls and text messages, Hon. Ademehin, on Friday, March 13, 2020, eventually spoke with our reporter for about seven minutes.
She spoke about the reconciliation meeting brokered by the party leaders, allegations of threat to the Councilors’ lives and mismanagement of funds.
“The situation now is that the party executives have directed them to reverse the impeachment”, she told our reporter.
“They were told to follow the directive of the party and that they cannot carry out any impeachment.
“The party leaders gave them 24-hours to reverse the impeachment and the ultimatum has already ended”, Hon. Ademehin told our reporter.
“The party is supreme and they have to accept the decision of the party’s leadership and return to the council to reverse the impeachment”, she emphasized.
“The party also told them that they cannot be publishing any story on the social media and I have instructed my own people to stop publishing anything on the social media”, she told our reporter.
When asked about the allegation of threat to the Councilors’ lives, she denied the allegation and stated that the councilors are the one threatening her.
“They mentioned that at the meeting with the party executives and they were told that they should return to the council and that their lives are not under any threat”, she stated.
“Nobody is threatening their lives and the council is secured”, she assured them.
She also denied using thugs to threatening the councilors.
“I was not going to the council with any thug as they have alleged. They are the ones carrying thugs and the party excos told them that too.
“In fact, Kalejaiye (the Majority Leader of the House) even threatened at the meeting that they will mobilise twenty thugs if I bring ten”, Hon. Ademehin stated.
On the accusations of financial impropriety and mismanagement, the council chairman stated that she has presented necessary documents to the party leaders in that regard.
“We have given all the necessary documents to the party concerning their (Councilors’) allegations”, she claimed.
Intervention of Lagos East District Council Chairmen and Leaders
On Thursday, March 12, Council Chairmen across the Lagos East Senatorial District and other Council functionaries gathered at the Ikorodu West LCDA in solidarity with their counterpart.
According to a release signed by Akinfenwa S.A, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Ikorodu West LCDA, the chairmen and others held meeting with Hon. Ademehin and sued for peace.
They also called on Council Leaders present to appeal to their aggrieved counterparts to allow for peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The meeting had in attendance Hon. Mayor Dele Osinowo, Executive Chairman, Agboyi Ketu Local Govt,Hon.Adesanya Adedoyin, Executive Chairman, Epe Local Government,Hon. Onanuga Adeniyi, Executive Chairman, Ikosi Ejirin LCDA, Hon.Adebisi Banjo, Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon.Wasiu Agoro, Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon.Saliu Fatiu, Executive Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon.Wasiu Adeshina, Executive Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Hon.Sesan Daini, Executive Chairman Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, and the host, Hon. Princess Olajumoke Jimbo Ademehin.
Others were Hon. Akinyemi Tajudeen, Council Leader, Agboyi Ketu LCDA, Hon. Ogunbela Adewale, Hon. Okesanya Lateef, Secretary, Lagos East Councilors’ Forum, Hon. Haruna Kemi Sherifat, Council Leader, Epe Local Government, Hon. Osunkoya Yomi, Council Leader, Somolu Local Government and Hon. Olumide, Council Leader, Kosofe Local Government.
In another release on Saturday, March 14, 2020, Elders and Leaders of the party in Ikorodu West LCDA stated that they have reviewed the impasse between the chairman and councilors and resolved among others that:
“That, all parties to the dispute should take advantage of the internal mechanism for the resolution of all disputes, including the involvement of Party Leaders .
“That, the purported removal of Princess Ademehin as the Chairman of Ikorodu West LCDA is considered a nullity and should be disregarded.
“That, all parties to the dispute should sheath their swords and allow peace to reign.
“That, in order for a sustainable peace in the Council, a 5-man Committee, consisting eminent and trusted Leaders of repute, was constituted to examine and proffer settlement to the grievances and reconcile the parties to the dispute.
“The Leaders appealed to both the Chairman and the Councillors to cooperate with the Committee and endeavour to work in harmony, particularly since the grievances, according to the legislative arm, are aimed at providing efficient and qualitative service delivery to residents and members of Ikorodu West LCDA”.
Aggrieved Councilors Oppose Any Political Solution
The aggrieved Councilors of Ikorodu West LCDA, led by Hon. Wasiu Agbaje, the Council Leader, in a release sent to THE IMPACT on Saturday, March 14, stated that the meeting held with the Council Chairmen and Leaders in the Lagos East Senatorial District is null, void and of no consequence on them.
They maintained that the impeachment of the chairman would not be vacated.
“The outcome of the meeting of Lagos East Senatorial Council Leaders and Conference of 16 Chairmen was that she (Hon. Ademehin) now asked the council leaders to be begging us on her behalf. But we are resolute that she stands impeached”, the aggrieved Councilors declared.
“The purported meeting between Lagos East Senatorial District Leaders and Conference of 16 Council Chairmen in Lagos East is NULL AND VOID because it was a KANGAROO meeting whereby the concerned members of the Legislative Council of Ikorodu West LCDA were not PRESENT.
“As at this time, the concerned Councilors are still in EXILE because our LIVES are in DANGER. As such on “ABURI WE STAND”, the release stated.
“The IMPEACHMENT of Hon Ganiyat Olajumoke Jimbo- ADEMEHIN stands”.
They stated that they only performed their legislative duty by impeaching the council chairman.
“The members of the Legislative Council, Ikorodu West LCDA, are only performing their Constitutional Duties in accordance with the Administrative Guideline”.
The Councilors, who claimed that they are still in exile, further alleged that the embattled chairman is trailing their wives and supporters with policemen and thugs.
“We are reliably informed by our wives and our people that she’s (Hon Ademehin) now on their trail with Policemen and thugs”, they alleged.
“As a matter of fact, the policemen and thugs were in the council leader’s area yesterday (Friday 13th March, 2020). Also, a Vanagon bus and a car fully loaded with suspected thugs and policemen went to the majority leader’s house on Thursday, 12th March, 2020”.
In a further chat by our reporter with the Majority Leader, Hon. Adebowale Kalejaye, he stated that the Councilors followed the laid down process in impeaching the chairman and insisted that they cannot be threatened to reverse their action.
“We have studied the constitution and our guidelines before the impeachment proper.
“Anyway, we are still in exile my brother.
“I am not surprise about any fabricated lies flying about. The Chairman and her husband are behind it. No amount of threats and intimidation will make us reverse the impeachment”, he vowed.
New Allegations Against Hon. Ademehin
Hon. Adebowale Kalejaiye, speaking on behalf of other Councilors, queried what Hon. Ademehin has been doing with about N723 million that the council received from the Federation Account Allocation between July 2017 and February 2020.
“What has Hon Ganiyat Olajumoke Jimbo-Ademehin done with tax-payers monies in terms of an Accrued Monthly Allocations of about N723,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Twenty -Three Million Naira), and the Internally Generated Revenues collected since her assumption of office in 2017 (31 months ago)?”, the Councilors queried.
“No single project in all our wards. More so, how many projects have the Party leaders at both our LCDA and the State level come to commissioned?
” That means she has successfully mis-appropriated these accrued monies. These questions are begging and crying profusely for answers”.
Public Reactions over the feud
The public are divided in their views over the Councilors’ decision to impeach the Hon Ademehin, their subsequent decision to go on exile; the accusation against the council chairman and the intervention by the party.
They expressed their views on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform.
A section hold that the Councilors are justified to impeach the Chairman. They are also of the view that the matter should not be resolved politically since it is a matter of public interest.
Another group are of the opinion that the Councilors did not follow the process laid down for impeachment and asked them to embrace political solutions as proffered by the party leaders.
Legal experts also dissagreed on the adherence and otherwise of the process of impeachment by the Councilors.
Barr Adeboye Dankwo, a Director at the National Assembly and community developer, was of the legal view that the Councilors did not follow due process in impeaching Hon. Ademehin.
“Is that the way to remove a sitting chairman? We’re just making mockery of this democracy… Too many power brokers everywhere…” , he stated.
“That’s what we get when the party leaves good hands for selfish interest to flag the banners…”.
Barr. Kayode Alabi, former State Chairman of the All Party Grand alliance (APGA) and incumbent National Legal Adviser of the party, in his own submission, stated that the lawmakers followed due process.
“I am not a court but from the available facts, those Councilors complied with the process stipulated by law…She (Hon Ademehin) was served with the various allegations against her. She was served with an impeachment notice….”, Barr. Alabi stated.
“She was given 7 days to respond to the allegations and appear before the legislative Council……before a vote was taken on it…..She was given a fair hearing….”.
Hon Gbenga Oshin, former Member, Lagos State House of Assembly , was of the opinion that the party is supreme.
“Elected leaders should have it at the back of their minds that the Party is supreme. A good example was that of Ikorodu West LCDA legislative arm who impeached their Chairman but the party elders in their wisdom were able to settle the difference peacefully.
“This is not to say sinners/ offenders cannot be punished”, he added.
A social media activist, Tayo Odesanya, reacting to Hon. Oshin’s position, described the situation where party leaders prevented elected legislators from performing their functions as absurd.
“So, party supersedes the laws of the land? And u proudly support and promote such absurdity, continue o!
Another participant, Sanni, also described Hon. Oshin’s stance as a “Case of embezzlement settled amicably. My people, my people”.
Mr Oke Godwin Ola-Oluwa, an Economist and social media commentator, also contributing, stated that the process should be allowed to take its course.
“The situation is beyond a political solution. It has become a matter of public interest. Whatever their differences, the voters care less this time.
“Officially, allegations have been levelled against the chairman, the process should be allowed to take its course. She is entitled to fair hearing by responding to the allegations. Afterwards, the state assembly can set up a panel to investigate. If she is found innocent, fine. If not, she should be removed”, he stated.
“My point is that the issue is already in public, trying to sweep it under the carpet will give the party a bad name. Let the process take its course”.
Mr Ohi Monday Obadan, a community developer and social commentator, described the impeachment by the Councilors as an abuse of privileges and powers and called for political process in resolving the matter.
“I am opposed to their action because of abuse of privileges and lack of transparent process and procedures….
“Will you allow petitioners to throw stone afar off…? Politics is about making compromises sir. They are behaving as dictators and militants”, he stated while accusing the aggrieved Councilors.
“Transparent Processes and Procedures must be followed outside primordial consideration”.
Are they not all in the same political party which leaders have already intervened and waded into the logjam? Then, why are they issuing unguided statements undermining resolution of their perceived allegations. Do they want to adjudicate in their own matter as both the judge and the jury?”, he queried.
“Arbitration and mediation is also a political process or process of governance. Since it is in the “public domain”, an electorate in my opinion can do any of these two or three things – Seek a class action i.e. protest or go to court, wait till the next election or continue to rant and do nothing or siddon look”, he suggested.
Former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, was cautious in his own reactions as he advised party leaders to handle the matter with care while stating that politics should not be a life and death affair.
“This issue of lkorodu West LCDA is one too many. Why go on exile? The parties should be mindful of their position on the current situation before they set the place ablaze. They should consult Oracle (history). No one should slain himself because of Lagos politics. Those that made fortune in politics are invisible. Borrow yourself brain”, he warned.
Arinola Okeowo, a young entrepreneur and journalist, reacting to Mr Obadan’s position, stated:
“All the issues raised are valid until proved otherwise with verifiable facts
“We should give both parties a plain ground and not take sides, as I believe there’s something they (both parties) know that we don’t.
“The crisis in that LCDA has been on for a while now, there are other LCDAs in Ikorodu and I believe the councillors won’t trigger this rift without any serious reason(s)”.
Comrade Soyiga Ladega, National President, National Association of Ikorodu Division Students (NAIDS), commenting on the issue, stated:
“I think both parties should come together to resolve their dispute”, he appealed.
“Party Leaders have waded into the crisis, they begged the councilors to embrace peace and reconsider their actions.
“I believe they have the constitutional power to do what they did but for the sake of the community and their own integrity, they should come back.
“I know they don’t want to look weak by retracting their decision but for the sake of the community, they should.
“The freedom and security of the legislators should also be guaranteed”.
Also commenting, the Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKDASS), Otunba Ganiyu Abiru while stating that the elected Councilors should be allowed to exercise their constitutional powers also added that the lawmakers must ensure that they follow the laid down procedures in carrying out the impeachment.
“This is the only way through which we can build our institutions without which our democracy will be on hollow foundation and eventually collapse on sentiments and afterthought. The loyalty of the Councilors is first to the people who elected them to perform certain legislative functions on their behalf and therefore political parties should not subjugate the interest of the larger population for party ‘ interest” he warned.
“It will interest you to know that if the impeachment processes are disallowed to take their full course, the party would have succeeded in emboldening the incumbent or future Chairmen to do likewise believing that Party leaders will always come to their aid”
“All of these would have been prevented if the political parties or leaders have been monitoring the performances of their representatives in office and cautioning them if their performances have been observed to be below expectation. Intervention at this time is like crying when the head is off”
“Education is a continuum and this will at least inform our parties to take interest on how various party men are behaving in office. Much as I believe in mediation or conflict resolution, it should not be used to encumber d growth of our democracy.
“I am also of d view that d Councilors should go through d processes of impeachment and should not be in a hurry to exercise their power” he cautioned them.
