The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Oyo State chapter has enjoined Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to stop further undue interference in the functions of local government areas.
SPN, while declaring that abattoir was one of the functions and roles of local government, blamed the administrative recklessness of Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led government as the cause of the Thursday’s clash between butchers and policemen at Bodija market, where about six people were reportedly killed.
SPN while consoling with the families of those who lost their lives, also demanded from the Oyo State government an adequate compensation and justice for the victims.
The party in a statement sent to DAILY POST by Comrade Kolapo Oladapo (Chairperson) and Comrade Ayodeji Adigun (Secretary) while describing the demolition of the Bodija market abattoir as a wastage of public facilities and unlawful, alleged that Ajimobi had virtually usurped almost all the functions of the local government in the state.
SPN said, “We also condemn the demolition of the abattoir by the Ajimobi-led government. It is a wastage of public facilities and also unlawful, given the fact that the case against the decision of the state government to forcefully relocate the butchers is still pending before the court of competent jurisdiction.
“SPN equally condemns the killing and violence instigated by the trigger happy Security agents who chose to take lives instead of protecting them at the instance of the Senator Ajimobi/APC-led government. At the same time, we hold that all the violence, killing and destruction are consequences of the undue interference and encroachment by senator Ajimobi-led government into the management and control of the abattoir within the market which is constitutionally meant to be one of the constitutional function of the local government authority in line with Section 1 (e) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.
“It is worthy to note that, since the inception of the Senator Ajimobi-led government in 2011, virtually all of the administrative functions of the 33 local government council in the state including the management of the abattoir have been usurped. This was done by its deliberate refusal to conduct a democratic local government election for over seven years of the regime.
“Even now that the regime recently conducted a local government election for its self-serving political agenda, it is not given that the state government will hands-off its undue interference and grip over the resources and facilities that belong to the local government. This is because; all of the acclaimed winners in the recent show of shame called local government election are nominees of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
“It is in the light of this that, SPN further holds that Senator Ajimobi-led administration is more liable to be blame for the poor hygienic condition of the Bodija abattoir. This is because, both the state government and its surrogate that preside over the affairs of the abattoirs have failed to invest the proceeds accrued through the outrageous rents regularly imposed on the poor butchers to improve on the condition of the abattoir.
“It is the absence of this necessary and regular maintenance and cleaning of the abattoir including the provision of adequate facilities like pipe-born water, animal health centre among others that is responsible for the current terrible features of the abattoir whereby according to the state government cow dung are usually left unpacked for months; cattle blood is unhealthy treated; offensive odor is often spread while air pollution due to gaseous emission from cow dung is prevalence.
“SPN opposes an abattoir run on the basis of PPP arrangement. This is because it will definitely lead to a rise in the slaughtering fee and cost of using the abattoir as the private company commissioned with the responsibility of presiding over the abattoir will always seek to increase its own profit margin at the expense of the people. The implication of this will be that many poor butchers may be eased out of the business while the price of the meat will equally be increased beyond the reach of the poor working people in the state.”
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