Ever since Hon Isibor Adeh, representing Esan North-East in the Edo State House of Assembly, ably seconded by Donald Okogbe, the representative for Akoko-Edo, moved the motion for the suspension of the 18 council chairmen and their assistants, the people of Edo have known no peace, as political pundits are still in a dilemma, not knowing the right adjective to use in describing the ongoing slugfest.
The confusion stems from the fact that just recently, the case of local government autonomy was pursued up to the supreme Court and Justice was seen to be served when the apex court ruled in favour of the local governments autonomy.
Besides, there was a court ruling asserting that the officials of the local governments would remain in office until September 2026. When the Chairpersons, under the auspices of ALGON, took the matter to Court, Justice Daniel Okungbowa ruled that the governor and the Assembly lacked the authority to suspend them or interfere with council administration.
But the Edo State Attorney General, Samson Osage has a different song. He insisted that the overreaching action of the Assembly has not altered the democratic structures of the local Councils and that the House has exercised its powers within the ambit of the local government administration laws and advised the embattled council chiefs to comply.
How objective and true can this perspective be when ordinarily, the Chairmen could have been duly and lawfully removed only by the councilors who are the legislative arm, if there was any infraction? Is the governor’s action, therefore, not an affront to democratic structure?
Now here’s the beginning of the story. Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier issued a directive to the council officials to submit their financial records to the state government. Their refusal to do so was taken as misconduct by the Governor who then called on the House to address the issue. Whether or not the governor has such powers to call for financial reports the way he did, is still fraught with enough legalese.
Meanwhile, as we speak, the embattled council chiefs have been summoned to Abuja by the EFCC with a stern directive to come along with the books. The question most people are asking is whether or not the Governor has violated the law of local government autonomy championed by the ruling APC President Tinubu. And whether or not the governor’s action has not caused a huge embarrassment to the President, being an APC governor and the first to “break the rules”
While the affected local council officials and the people are waiting with bated breath for a satisfying explanation on the matter, one can only wish that this action by the Governor is not an ego trip or sheer politics of territorial dominance or more.
you have got an incredible blog here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my weblog?
some genuinely interesting points you have written.