By Alltimepost.com
Owan West Local Government Area Chairman in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Agibodion, has been suspended following allegations of financial mismanagement and other administrative irregularities.
Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, announced his suspension while addressing members of the Local Government Executive Council and Councilors yesterday at the Government House, Benin City.
The Governor said, “We have tried in the past to call the Chairman to have a good working relationship with his Executives.”
He said the government had decided to set up a committee of enquiry to investigate these allegations, both financial and non-financial.
“In the provisions of the appropriate legislations of the Local Government law, I have decided to exercise the powers vested in me to suspend the Chairman during this period for the committee to investigate all the allegations and submit the report to me.
“So with immediate effect, the Chairman is suspended and a Committee of enquiry is set up. In line with the rules, the Vice Chairman will act as the Chairman of the Local Government.”
Governor Oshiomhole directed the suspended chairman to stay away from the premises of the Local Government, adding that when the Committee was ready to sit, it would invite him to defend himself against all the allegations.
The governor appealed to all parties involved and stakeholders to desist from things that would lead to violence or in any way lead to destruction.
“If anybody does anything that leads to rioting or protests or anything that will disrupt the peace of the community, the person will be exposing himself because the full weight of the law will be brought to bear,” Oshiomhole warned.
While the Chairman is on suspension, continued the governor, the Vice Chairman, Hon. Reginald Okuns will reserve all the powers and privileges of the Chairman.
“Your brief is straightforward, it is to provide leadership and perform those functions that the Chairman usually performs and you must avoid his own mistakes, you must ensure that you do not in any way do anything that will bother on financial mismanagement. You must follow due procedure in award of contract or in any business that you want to do
“If you are in doubt, please seek clarification from either the Ministry of Local Government or from the Attorney-General or even directly from my office. This is not something to celebrate or not to celebrate. It is a huge responsibility that you now have to provide leadership for the Local Government while this enquiry is on.
“I don’t want to hear people are boasting, people are boasting or people are saying it is my turn. This is just a duty to perform and when the Chairman is not available, the Vice Chairman takes over so go and provide the needed leadership and I have no doubt that you are capable to do this and I wish you the best of luck”.
Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has inaugurated a four-Man Commission of Enquiry to investigate the allegations leveled against the Chairman.
In his address, Governor Oshiomhole said, “We decided to set up this committee on the provisions of Section 20, sub-section 11 of the Local Government Law as amended 2006.
“We have had series of allegations bordering on administrative incompetence, poor governance, diversion of public funds, non-payment of salaries and breach of procurement procedures against the Chairman of Owan West Local Government and these allegations have persisted in spite of my numerous attempt to advise him to review his approach to governance and ensure that he obeys all the rules and regulations and subject himself to the dictates of the law and the norms of governance.
“It is clear from the gale of petitions and complaints that these allegations have not abated and I am convinced that they are sufficiently serious enough to warrant a formal enquiry. I am not in a position to form an opinion on the basis of these allegations. In our law, everyone is deemed innocent until he is found guilty.
“In line with the provision of the Local Government Law, Section 20, in exercise of the power vested in me, I have decided to constitute an administrative commission of enquiry to investigate these and other allegations. This is not a judicial allegation and we are not investigating criminal allegation, basically it is an administration committee of enquiry and we have decided to look for seasoned and well experienced administrators.”
According to Oshiomhole, this suspension under the law is expected to last for a period of two months. “You are therefore expected to do everything to turn in your report on time so that the issues can be determined one way or the other within the time provided for in the enabling legislation.”
Members of the commission include: Chief Tom Uloko, as Chairman while Barrister Mrs. Osagajah serves as Secretary. Other members are Maj-Gen Charles Omoregie (rtd) and Barrister Tunji Aroya.
In his response, Chief Tom Uloko assured that the Commission would be firm, fair and apply all ethics known to the law to carry out the assignment and report back as soon as possible.
Godwin Aigbodion Denies Allegations
Meanwhile, the embattled local government chairman, Mr. Godwin Aigbodion has denied all the allegations against him
Alltimepost.com called and spoke to him on phone from the United States today to get his response to the allegations.
He said as at the time of the interview he had not been presented with any allegations in writing, other than the suspension letter that he received from the government.
Aigbodion said he expected the due process where he would have been presented with all the allegations and given the opportunity to respond within 45 days to have been followed.
“In due process of the law I would have been presented with the allegations and given time to respond.
“Despite all the surprises of the suspension, I have faith in the system that justice will prevail.
The comrade governor has clearly stated that he is keeping an open mind about all the allegations,” he said.
He blamed his ordeal on ethnic and political witch-hunt carefully orchestrated by some powerful people within the local government.
There are two constituencies in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, namely constituency one and two. Mr. Aigbodion is from constituency one while his vice chairman, Hon. Reginald Okuns and the Secretary to the state government, Mr. Julius Ihonvbere are from constituency two.
Constituency one is made up of people from the Ora clan while constituency two consists of people from Uzeba and Iueleha clans.
Alltimepost.com gathered that there have been ethnic and political rivalries and squabbles between members of the two constituencies for a long time now, said to have stalled good and harmonious working relationship between him, his vice chairman and members of the local government executive council.
Sources close to the community said that Mr. Aigbodion is first chairman to be elected from his constituency.
