Re-instate elected local government Chairmen Group urges Speaker Agbebaku, Edo Assembly
Re-instate elected local government Chairmen.
.....use your good office to resolve constitutional crisis in Edo ~ Group urges Speaker Agbebaku, Edo Assembly
By Gidigba Group
A Benin-based socio-political organization, Gidigba Group, has urged the Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku-led Edo State House of Assembly to wield its powers and reinstate the suspended elected local government Chairmen in Edo; noting that the suspension and the accompanying purported impeachments by incomplete legislative arms at the Councils have not only drawn huge embarrassment and high criticisms to the Edo State Government and the Assembly, but has reduced the State and institution to a laughing stock, considering the flagrant abuse on constitutional democracy that the purported impeachment attracts.
Gidigba noted that recent developments that has led to the immediate suspension of two senior officers of the Okpebholo-led administration yesterday, cannot be unconnected with the crisis that has crippled development across local government Councils in Edo, showing that the attack on Councils was never in good faith.
Yesterday, Edo people woke up to the suspension of two senior officers of government on accusation of "administrative and financial infractions"; Damian Lawani, who until his suspension, was Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, has amongst other things, been fingered to have put Councilors under pressure to purportedly impeach elected local government Chairmen in Edo.
The Group drew the attention of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, to the Supreme Court ruling of 2024 which grants autonomy to local governments in Nigeria; noting that the verdict which enables local governments to make decisions and take actions without needing approval from State Governments, has been received with high expectations.
"Mr. Speaker, Sir, you will recall that in 2024, Nigerians jubilated, having received the news of autonomy granted local governments by Nigeria's Supreme Court; a subject that has been a major topical issue since this democracy came on board in 1999."
"Local government autonomy, achieved under the Tinubu-led administration, has become a legacy achievement of President Bola Tinubu, it seems to have however, faced frontal resistance in Edo going by the various uncomplimentary developments that has threatened it in recent times; we are hopeful that you will change the narrative, and put Edo on the spotlight as a law-abiding and descent society", Idehen Ebomoyi, the Group's Director of Administration, noted.
"Local governments plays significant role, driving government's policies and programmes down the grassroots; they are the indefatigable bridge between the government and the people, being the third tier of government, they serve a significant buffer between the sub-national and the government at the centre, and putting the incontrovertible need to develop our rural communities in perspective, we must all rise up to defend our local governments", the group noted.
Asking Mr. Speaker, the group said, "what have we achieved since the beginning of the crisis? Has new industries being built, no, have we had new schools, no, has there been additional market stalls, no, what about primary health centres, has a block been added, no, transportation, has there been free transportation for the elderly and students, no, new roads, no, has security improved since the local government crisis ensued, no, what about IGR, has it jacked up, no, have we been able to pay salaries, no, Mr. Speaker, Sir, is it not obvious that the avoidable crisis in Edo local governments has done more harm than good, crippling development, stalling human capacity development, thwarting inter-LG peer review initiatives, the crisis has only successfully brought on us shame from all corners, reducing our dear State to a safe haven for rascality and lawlessness".
Gidigba noted that local governments were already picking up in Edo; administrators of that tier were already engaging in competitive development, there was synergy between Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo was already discussing developmental issues with Ovia, Egor was borrowing some templates from Uhunmwode, Etsako was holding meetings to discuss developmental way forward with Owan, while Esan was looking to Igueben for productive collaboration, this synergy and collaborative discourse has now been crippled, incapacitated due to the crisis.
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"It is imperative to put our name in gold, and do what is right for public good; as this is what will catapult us to political prominence, not necessarily how many people got entraped by our policies and decisions", noted Gidigba.
Gidigba said Edo ought to be in competitive development with sister-states, but the impasse in the local governments that has crippled development hinders that; the infamous news that continue to emanate from Edo is an unfortunate demarketing tool, affecting all institutions of government, including the House of Assembly, urging the Speaker to exercise uncommon patriotism and reverse the ugly trend currently prevalent in Edo local governments.
"We will expect that Mr. Speaker will rise up to the challenge of reversing the ugly development in Edo local governments, putting an end to the constitutional crisis that has ensued therefrom, Edo is a strategic entity, sitting majestically in a central position, so that whatever happens here quickly becomes news, and that the lawless and illegal takeover of Councils has become a bad news associated with Edo, does us no good, but effortlessly reduces our dear State to a safe haven for rascality and lawlessness".
"You stand a glorious chance to reverse the constitutional crisis now dragging Edo to the mud", Gidigba told Speaker Agbebaku.
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