Verdict Vindicates Govt's Position, Says Fani -Kayode
From Emmanuel Onwubiko (Abuja)
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed happiness over yesterday's verdict of the Supreme Court, which ruled in part that Lagos State government has constitutional powers to create new local councils.
The court also ordered the Federal Government to immediately pay all the local council funds withheld over the issue.
Speaking to The Guardian in Abuja yesterday, the Presidential Assistant on Public Affairs Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode quoted Obasanjo as saying that the verdict has vindicated his (Obasanjo) position.
Fani-Kayode who said the verdict was a favourable one assured that funds meant for the 20 local government areas would be immediately disbursed to Lagos State.
He said: "I will describe the judgement as a sound and very good verdict and it is a great victory for President Obasanjo's position. What Mr. President has always maintained from the out set is that all the conditions for creating new local councils have not been met by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
"This position of Mr. President is what the Supreme Court has upheld in the landmark verdict. The president has always said he can order release of funds to only local councils recognised in the 1999 Constitution.
"The Supreme Court agreed with us that only 20 local governments would benefit from the funds to be released from the Federation Account."
He said it was wrong for Lagos to believe that the judgement was favourable only to its position.
The Presidential aide advised Lagos State to go to the National Assembly for consequential legislation before the new councils can be legalised.
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