Edo Governor Okpebholo Must Desist From Interfering In Local Government Administration, Executive Rascality — Civic Groups Warn

December 24, 2024

News

The groups issued the warning while reacting to the recent suspension of the 18 local government chairmen in the state by the governor and the State House of Assembly. Civic groups under the umbrella of Civil Society Organisations Concern in Edo State have warned the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, and the State House of Assembly to desist from interfering in the administration of local government in the state.

The groups issued the warning while reacting to the recent suspension of the 18 local government chairmen in the state by the governor and the State House of Assembly. Without a properly constituted local government administration accessing the FAAC allocation, therefore implies that for the next two months in Edo, local government workers would not receive their salaries, LG pensioners would not receive their salaries and contractors would not receive their salaries. This will amount to economic stagnation and hunger for the people.”

The groups, therefore, called on the Edo State Governor, Okpebholo, and the Edo State House of Assembly to defer to the higher and objective voice of reason and “desist from interfering in the administration of local government in the state. 

“Partner with the various local governments, irrespective of their political differences, to deliver the dividend of democracy to both urban and rural dwellers in the state.”

The groups also demanded that “the assembly should immediately review its earlier decision to suspend the local government chairmen but allow them to continue their work in the service of the local government as elected officials.”

 The groups noted that “these actions will be more effective and appreciated by the Edo people in the next 72 hours as if the needful is not done, the entire Edo people will have no option but to rise up and save our democracy through all legitimate means possible.”

The statement added: “We, therefore, call on President Bola Tinubu to call the Edo State Governor to order immediately as this path he is pursuing denies his administration’s renewed agenda of hope following his decision in the latest Supreme Court judgment that freed 774 Governors-General from the iron grip of the states.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, a wise man once said. We must therefore defend our democracy at all levels, irrespective of those involved.”