Posted on: 04:22 Thu, 23 Jun 2016



Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo told the National Union of
Local Government Emplpoyers on
Wednesday that he lacks the power
to grant their demand – the
restoration of the local government
structure.

Ibrahim Khaleel led the leadership
of the NULGE to Obasanjo’s Hilltop
Mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun state,
to seek his help in giving the local
governments more power and
make them more effective.

But Obasanjo said his ‘crippled’ self
can’t do much – can only make
noise – about their plight while he
however, elected to blame state
governors for the state of local
governments.

“There is no exception to this
bastardisation and encroachment
by states. Even though both are
supposed to be separate tiers of
government, with each having its
roles and functions, that is not the
case anymore.”

“I wish I could help, but I am
helpless. As it is, I can only help
you to shout and talk to the world. I
do not have any executive or
legislative power. I am crippled.”

“But we shall continue to talk until
those who are reasonable among
them change this attitude.”

“I begin to wonder if they (states)
can allow what they are doing to
the local governments to be done to
them.”