The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday announced the immediate suspension of the Executive Chairman of Oyo East Local Government Area, Olusola Oluokun, following allegations of gross misconduct.
The representative of Lagelu State Constituency, Akintunde Olajide, presented the motion for the suspension of the LG chairman.
The decision of the lawmakers to suspend the chairman might not be unconnected to a viral video on social media where Oluokun was reportedly seen partially unclothed eating while praising his political godmother and publicly cursing her enemies.
The decision, taken during the plenary, is seen by the House as a key step in maintaining accountability and decorum by public officers.
The Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, in his brief remarks before approving the suspension, cautioned local government chairmen against arbitrary use of power, especially now that the call for local government autonomy has reached its peak.
The Speaker said it was wrong for a sitting executive chairman seen as a role model by members of the public to conduct himself in such a manner and warned other chairmen from conducting themselves in a way that discredits the exalted offices they hold.
Rahman Olorunpoto, representing Oyo East/West Constituency, and Gbenga Oyekola, representing Atiba State Constituency, pleaded with the house to tamper justice with mercy and have the erring chairman simply cautioned.
However, other lawmakers kicked against the appeal, stressing that such suspension will serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to act recklessly in public without regard to the offices they hold.
Lamenting the implication of such public conduct, Ogundoyin ordered the Executive Chairman to step aside immediately and hand over to his vice chairman, pending the report of further investigations by the House.
The Speaker also directed the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, headed by Olajide, to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and report back to the House.
