STOP MANIPULATING COUNCIL DELEGATES, SPEAKER WARNS CHAIRMEN

Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Dr. Najeem Salaam has warned local government chairmen who were alleged to be using instrumentality of office to intimidate delegates in council cabinet and party structure in their domains, in order to protect certain interest, saying such move would not only create atmosphere of political imbalance but also capable of engender mistrust in government.

Speaker Salaam disclosed this at a meeting he held with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Otan Ayegbaju, Boluwaduro Local Government, he said that every governorship aspirant has his area of strength; warning that it would not be healthy for some council chairmen to be threatening their parliamentary colleagues with stoppage of their entitlements unless they kowtow to certain interest in the  governorship race

He said: "If the House of Assembly under my watch  can approve the entitlements of the council political officials without employing a subtle blackmail to seek party delegate vote, then it is uncomplimentary and unjust to know that some council chairmen would be threatening some of their parliamentary colleagues suspected to have different opinions on the forthcoming APC shadow election in the state. No single aspirant can win general election, the poll can only be won through concerted effort, but if manipulation is suspected, then chances of the party at the general election are also threatened".

Dr. Salaam asserted that any council chairman found to be indulging in coercing delegates in his or her council, seizing entitlement of anyone because of his political belief would be made to understand the supervisory role of the state parliament through appropriate sanction.

He then assured the party stakeholders to be free in choosing any aspirant of their  choice, saying the era of using instrumentality of office to cow free born citizens had gone; insisting that the state parliament will redress any case of injustice anytime it rears its ugly head.

He also revealed to the party stakeholders that he has only one agenda that touches all spheres of life called SECURITY AGENDA.

Dr. Salaam stressed that security of life and property, education, employment, food and health coupled with communal participation in governance would be his priorities.

Signed:
Goke Butika
CPS to the Speaker
Osun State House of Assembly