The troubled fired council officials and the Oyo state government’s seemingly never-ending troubles might finally come to an end.
The development occurred in the context of Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, intervening during his working visit to the governor’s office on Monday, January 15. The former chairman of the fired ALGON members, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, who was fired by the governor upon taking office, was in the minister’s entourage during the visit.
A source privy to the meeting informed The Nation that, “Today, peace has been brokered between the State government and the sacked members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) as Governor Seyi Makinde promises to release the fund immediately.
“The Minister of Power, Chief Adelabu intervened in the crisis, by appealing to the state government and representative of the Ex-ALGON represented by Prince Aleshinloye to embrace peace.
“The Minister intervened on Monday, at the state secretariat during a working visit to the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde earlier today.
“This came as the former ALGON Chairman was on the entourage of the Minister who was on a working visit to the state.
“Earlier on, the governor jokingly threw banter immediately, he sighted Aleshinloye, who was seated in one corner of the Executive Chamber during the courtesy visit when he jokingly said I can see Aleshinloye in this office that he did not follow the Minister on the working visit but he only came here to remind me of their money. The banter sent everyone laughing.”
According to the source, Chief Adelabu intervened in the matter in a closed-door meeting with the Governor and former Prince Abass-Aleshinloye, in which the governor promised to settle the debt immediately.
“Before they went into a closed door, some of the governor’s Executive Assistants and some on the Minister’s entourage including Hon Olayemi Gbenga, and Chief Segun Olalere were sighted as they engaged in discussion while others exchanged banters.
“In the ensuing development, Governor Makinde later proceeded to shake hands and briefly exchange pleasantries with Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye after the meeting which ended on a peaceful note”, the source added.
