By Ayo Kehinde
The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended all Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils in the state.
The decision follows the alleged failure of the council chairmen to submit their yearly stewardship to the state government.
Adopting the resolution for their suspension at plenary led Tuesday by Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, the Assembly directed heads of the various legislative arm of the councils to oversee the administration of their respective LGAs for the next two months.
The suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was a sequel to a motion moved by the member representing Esan North East 1, Isibor Adeh, and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo 2, Donald Okogbe.
Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier written a petition to the House over the 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 intervention of the lawmakers.
When the matter came up for debate at plenary on Tuesday, 14 members supported the motion for their suspension, while 6 lawmakers opposed, 3 members however declared neutrality.
Meanwhile, the state Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the suspension as unconditional, null and void.
State Chairman of the party, Anthony Aziegbemi said the suspension, ” directed by the governor is a blatant disregard of the recent ruling of the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa and the Supreme Court’s decision in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, which affirmed the autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said by their action, the Speaker and members of the Assembly have overstepped their constitutional mandate and urged the Chairmen to report for work at their offices, arguing that the Chairmen were elected as the governor by the people of their respective local government areas.
