By Precious Oluwole

The Ondo State House of Assembly says that the administration of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will not hesitate to cancel or suspend any creation of local government development area( LCDA) in any community or local government area enmeshed in crisis.

The Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Olamide Oladiji, said this on Thursday during a public hearing on the proposed creation of 33 LCDAs in the state.

Trace reports that the State Executive Council ( SEC) approved the creation of 33 LCDAs out of 18 local government areas in the state.

“Let me state without mincing words, that the the Oluwarotimi Akeredoly administration in Ondo State will not hesitate to cancel or suspend the creation of Local Council Development Areas in any community or Local Government areas where there is crisis or court injunctions.

“To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and to say anything less than the foregoing, is to distort reality. We must salute the visionary leadership of Mr. Governor who in his wisdom chooses to tow the line of other southwest states which had earlier created their LCDAS with a view to fast-tracking development at the grassroots.

“Of a truth, the Local Government as the third tier of government plays significant roles in enhancing sustainable development of the nation,” he said.

According to the speaker, the constitution of Nigeria empowers state governments to create local government areas subject to the ratification of their State Assemblies.

“ And that the process towards this ratification gives impetus to our gathering here today.

“However, the constitutional bottlenecks caused by the required final approval of the National Assembly buoyed by quest to bring development to the grassroots, necessitated the creation and adoption of Local Council Development Areas as a comfortable nomenclature, which when they begin operation, they shall enjoy the full status of the existing local governments.

“I charge all agitators to be most orderly and eschew any act or action that is capable of short living our joy and happiness, and as I hereby declare this public hearing,” he stated.

Earlier, the speaker said that the public hearing was a forum to deliberate on the document which would finally give credence to the creation of LCDAs.

“There is no gain saying the fact that what is happening in Ondo State today, in the context of the bold step taken by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to create LCDAs.

“It is a great thing of joy and as such, all hands must be on deck in order to ensure that it succeeds and does not fail. The purpose of the yearnings and quest to bring government closer to the people and hence faclitate development at the grassroots must not be defeated.

“Ladies and gentlemen, in tandem, with the talk and do mantra of the state government, the ratification of the 33 Local Council Development Areas as proposed by the executive arm will be our major preoccupation today.

“However, as much as we know as a matter of fact that it is not unexpected of community leaders to express their grievances and concerns about the geographical composition, nomenclature and location of headquarters of the LCDAs.

“So much more, we do need to krow that our agitation and the “push” for the realization of our interests or requests must be done with caution, devoid of violence,” he stated.

According to him, participants should be mindful of the fact that they are before the eyes of global community.

One of the respondents, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ojo, the Iralepo of Isikan in Akure South Local Government, appreciated the state governor for the giant steps he had taken.

Oba Ojo said that the people of Isikan prayed that an LCDA in the areas should be named Isinkan LCDA that would comprise Ward 1 to Ward 3 from the Akure South LGA.

He added that the proposed LCDA would bring development to people of the area.