21st September, 2011
The chairman of Agabado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Kenny Okunmuyide, was on Monday impeached by the council’s legislative arm, barely one month to the 22 October local government election in the state.
The chairman’s impeachment, according to Mr. Ganiyu Ajose, the chief whip, was based on allegations of gross misconduct and financial impropriety.
According to him, the seven-member legislative arm of the council was left with no choice than to embark on the impeachment exercise, following failure of the embattled chairman to defend himself.
He added that the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the area had earlier placed Okunmuyide on indefinite suspension over alleged anti-party activities.
Also, many supporters of the party in the council area took to the streets on Monday to protest allegation that the embattled chairman was warming to return to office for a second term, insisting that he failed to live up to expectations during his first term in office.
The protesters vowed to work against the interest of the party at the 22 October poll if Okunmuyide is fielded as the ACN candidiate during the election.
Alhaji Muyideen Baruwa, secretary of ACN in the council area, who led the aggrieved party supporters, claimed that Okunmuyide did nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the area in the three years he held sway as chairman.
Receiving the protesters, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ayinla, commended their good conduct during the protest and promised that the House will look into their grievance.
When contacted on telephone, the chairman simply gave a no comment answer.
Meanwhile, a new council chairman has been sworn in. He is Dr. Augustine Adeoye Arogun.
Until his new appointment contained in a letter with reference number AGK/CO/CMA/VOL 2/009/20/09/2011 dated 20 September, 2011 and signed by Remi Aderibigbe, the Chief Press Secretary, he was the council’s vice chairman.
The development was a fall out of an emergency session by the legislative arm of the council led by Folarin Olayinka, leader of the House, after his erstwhile boss, Pastor Kenny Okunmuyide was impeached over reasons of gross misconduct, maladministration and corruption.
Arogun has since resumed duty.