The Councilors of Owo Local Government of Ondo State on Wednesday suspended the chairman of the council, Mr Tope Omotayo, over allegations of gross misconduct.
Omotayo was elected to the position under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the last local government election held last year. He was said to be having undisclosed issues with the elected councilors in recent times.
The decision of the councillors was contained in a resolution signed by a two-thirds majority of the local government legislative council.
The resolutions stated: “The Owo Local Government Legislative Council, under the leadership of Hon. Doyin Adebayo, has taken decisive action to uphold good governance and accountability within the Owo Local Government Area.
“The allegations against Hon. Omolayo include financial improprieties, flagrant violations of statutory budget and IGR regulations, disrespect towards traditional leaders, and a consistent failure to conduct himself appropriately. These serious allegations warrant a thorough investigation.
“During the suspension period, Hon. Hamed Ibrahim, the Vice Chairman, will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Local Government Area Council. An investigation into the allegations will be carried out in a fair, transparent, and impartial manner.
“The council assures the citizens of Owo Local Government Area that this suspension is crucial for ensuring accountability and good governance. We encourage all stakeholders to remain calm and cooperative as we work to resolve these issues.
“Key details of the suspension include: Hon. Tope Omolayo is suspended effective immediately, with Hon. Hamed Ibrahim serving as acting chairman during this time. The Head of the Local Government Administration will implement necessary changes to bank signatories, acknowledging Hon. Hamed Ibrahim as the Acting Chairman. All properties belonging to the Local Government Area Council that are in Hon. Omolayo’s possession will be handed over to the Head of the Local Government Administration.
It added that the legislative council remained committed to serving the people of Owo Local Government Area and is dedicated to upholding standards of good governance and accountability.”
However, the embattled chairman, in his reaction, while speaking with journalists, rejected the action of the councillors, saying he had not received any official communication regarding his purported suspension.
“Those are elements of destruction. I didn’t receive any letter from them, we did not even argue. We were in the same program yesterday,” he said.
