Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said that another tranche of N2 billion has been paid to former Local Government Chairmen in the state.
Makinde disclosed this on Saturday at Ogbomoso.
The Chairmen who were all members of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) were illegally removed from office in 2019 before the expiration of their tenure by Makinde.
The governor maintained that the money was released on Friday.
According to him, the action put an end to the long-drawn battle between his administration and the former local government chairmen.
He said : “When I took over as governor in 2019, I decided to sack all the Local Government chairmen because we felt their election was unconstitutional.
“As a result, they also took me to court for government to pay their entitlements.
“We dragged the matter up to the Supreme Court level.
“But, on Friday, I paid N2 billion out of the debt. So, we are no longer fighting.”
The state government had earlier in 2021 released N1 billion to the ex-chairmen in fulfillment of the Supreme Court judgment which directed that the sacked chairmen be paid their entitlements
Governor Makinde spoke at the burial and thanksgiving service in honour of Mama Ruth Adenihun Dare, mother of former Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare, held at Sabo Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Speaking further, Makinde charged residents not to fight over politics, as politicians always have a way of settling their differences.
“I am sure Chief Sunday Dare must have thought I wouldn’t attend this event because we don’t belong to the same party.
“I tell people not to fight because of politicians, because it is not worth it. This is because we do a lot of other things together behind the curtain.
Makinde , equally noted that he would return to Ogbomoso in few weeks time to inaugurate the 78.6km Ogbomoso-Iseyin-Fapote road. (vitalnewsngr.com)
