From Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Thursday reinstated eight embattled Local Government Chairmen and their Councillors earlier suspended.
The Chairmen were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP).
The resintatment followed an adoption of the reports of the House Committee of Public Petitions submitted by the Chairman, Mr Adegoke Olajide.
Eight other embattled Chairmen and their Councillors were to remain suspended for further forensic investigation.
16 LGAs Chairmen and their Councillors were December last year suspended by the Assembly on the allegation of gross misappropriation of over N4 billion.
The eight reinstated LGAs Chairmen and Councillors were: Ijero, Moba, Gbonyin, Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun
Others were: Ikole, Ekiti South West and Ekiti West.
Those LGAs to remain suspended were: Oye, Ise/Orun,Ekiti East, Ikere and Efon.
While the rest were: Ido/Osi, Emure and Ilejemeje.
Presenting the report of his committee, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Mr Adegoke Olajide said the Chairman of the Ekiti ALGON, Mr Dapo Olagunju on behalf of others wrote a petition appealing for reinstatement.
“The appellant on behalf of the 16 indicted LGAs Chairmen appealed to the Assembly to passionately look into their cases with a view to reinstating them back in office.
” The decision of the Public Petitions Committee to consider the appeal of Mr Dapo Olajide on behalf of all the 16 indicted LGA Chairmen is premised on the imperative of ensuring stability of the third tiers of government within the state.
“It is the opinion of the committee that the LGA officials who obtained clearance from the supervising Ministry before embarking on questionable projects can be reinstated,” Olajide said.
Commenting, the Speaker, Mr Funmiyi Afuye commended the committee for a work well done, describing it as a great job.