Following the quest to ensure sanity in political party, members in public offices and state, the Chairman of Aliero Local Government Area in Kebbi State, Alhaji Salihu Auwal Aliero, has been impeached by the council’s councillors for alleged gross misconduct.
According to the councillor who pleaded anonymity, this decision was taken during an emergency sitting at the council secretariat.
Aliero’s removal was said to have birthed from the result of a majority vote by the councillors, and a new acting chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Ibrahim, has already been sworn in by the acting chief judge of the state, Justice Umar Abubakar.
However, the oath of office and allegiance has been administered to both the acting chairman and his deputy, Abubakar Ibrahim.
Though the decision of Aliero’s removal came as a shock to many in the community, as he was elected to the position in 2019 and was expected to serve for the full four-year term, having allegations of gross misconduct were brought against him, prompting the councillors to take action.
Even the details of the alleged misconduct have not been made public, but it is unclear what impact the impeachment will have on the operations of the local government.
It was gathered that the swearing-in of a new acting chairman suggests that the council is preparing to progress without Aliero.
But the removal of the chairman highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in local government which also serves as a reminder that elected officials must be held to a high standard of conduct and that any allegations of misconduct must be thoroughly investigated.
To this end, the community awaits further information about the allegations against Aliero and the impact of his removal, while the councillors continue to take their responsibilities seriously and committed to ensure the local government operates better for the interests of the community.
(Leadership)