Creation Of New Councils Constitutional, Says Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Mr.  Rauf Aregbesola, said on Monday that the objective of his administration in conducting a referendum on local government council  creation is in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Monday by the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,  the new local councils which will be created will meet the required standard.

He said his government was prompted into embarking on the exercise because of the genuine desire and consent of the people of the state.

The governor stated this after casting his vote at the Ifofin Ward 8 Unit 1 in Ilesa during the referendum on the creation of new local governments in the state by the Osun Independent Electoral Commission.

He stressed that the state government is determined to ensure that all legal, technical and constitutional procedures are followed to the letter in the council creation processes hence the referendum in all wards of the state.

The state government in year 2012 set up a committee to look into how the state could create viable local government councils with sustainable socio-economic potentials.

A former Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, was made the chairman of the committee which has since submitted its report to the governor.

He said, “As it is in democracy, what we are trying to do is to feel the pulse of the people to know what their preferences are. I am sure the state will not have any problem as being envisaged by some people because we will do everything possible to meet the constitutional requirement.