…Governor Okpebholo, EDHA lack power to suspend council chairmen, says PDP
By Idahosa Musa
Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution, suspending chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state for two months following a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo over alleged refusal of the council Chiefs to submit financial records.
The house also mandated leaders of the legislative arms to take over leadership of their respective councils.
The suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was sequel to a motion moved by the member representing Esan North East 1, Mr Isibor Adeh and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo 2, Mr Donald Okogbe.
The Governor of the state, Monday Okpebholo had earlier written a petition to the House over refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the state government.
In the letter, the Governor who described their action as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.
When the matter came up for debate, 14 members supported the motion for their suspension, 6 of them were opposed to the motion while 3 members refused to either support or oppose the motion.
Reacting to the suspension, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the 18 local government council chairmen and vice chairmen earlier to ignore their suspension and go back to work.
Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the PDP Chairman in Edo who made the call in Benin maintained that neither Governor Monday Okpebholo nor the state house of assembly has the power to suspend council chairmen and their vice chairmen
“Prior to this illegal suspension, the state Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa, has told the assembly that they lack the powers to unilateral tamper with the affairs of elected local government council following the financial autonomy granted the local governments by the recent Supreme Court ruling.
“What the assembly did today cannot stand because of the Apex Court ruling granting financial autonomy to elected local government councils in the country.
“We therefore, called on the Federal Government to obey the latest judgement which it sponsored, by seizing allocations meant for the 18 local government councils as the Supreme Court said until the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen return back to their seats”, Aziegbemi posited
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