Youths of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have issued a stern warning to the state government to immediately end what they described as the “regime of terror”, and allow peace to reign in local government councils and the state in general.
Last 18 December, the state Assembly passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government areas for two months. The lawmakers reportedly acted pursuant to a complaint by Governor Monday Okpebholo, who accused the council leaders of failing to comply with his directive to submit their financial records to him.
On 3 December, the governor gave the council chairpersons 48 hours to submit their statements of account from September 2023 to date to the state Assets Verification Committee.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi faulted the Assembly’s action, saying it was unlawful. Fagbemi, who is also the Minister of Justice, said the only organ with such power is the legislative arm of such local government council.
In a formal reaction to the ongoing harassment, intimidation and humiliation of the chairmen, vice chairmen and the councillors across the 18 local government areas of Edo State
In a viral video on Sunday, PDP Youth Leader for Esan South East Local Government Area, Mr Ofure Paul Aimiebenomon warned that enough was enough. He stressed that their peaceful disposition should not be taken for granted as nobody has the monopoly of violence.
Ofure, who said he was speaking with the full authority of the PDP National Youth Leader, the support of the youth leaders of the six geopolitical zones of the country, Edo State Youth Leader and that of Esan youths, condemned the resort to arm twisting tactics by the Okpebholo administration when there are subsisting court rulings about the subject matter.
In the four minutes, 31 seconds video, Aimiebenomon said: “We’re here to air our views about what has been happening to our Edo State local government chairmen and their vice chairmen. We have a governor who is supposed to represent the good people of Edo State. Unfortunately, what we have right now is a governor who is chasing, flogging and beating, and making sure that people who were dully voted for are evicted from office.
“This is in spite of court judgements that the chairmen should be left alone. He has gone ahead to demonstrate that he is too powerful and bigger than the rule of law. We condemn this in totality. We say no to it. We as a party, we are a peace loving and law abiding people. We abhor violence because you don’t win all wars with guns. Dr. Asue Ighodalo, our Leader, has a slogan that, ‘You don’t win all wars with guns’. And that is why all of us following Ighodalo have refrained from any violence because he is a man of peace; the former governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, is a man of peace and the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP in the state, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, is a man of peace. All the youth leaders are men of peace.
“But the truth is this: there is an extent to which we can take these insults. You cannot continue to flog our people as if there is nobody to protect or defend them. We are begging, enough is enough”, he stated.
He urged all viewers to ensure that the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Edo State get to see the video. He recalled that before and during the election in September last year, members of the PDP were indiscriminately arrested in the state, and now chairmen and councillors are being harassed and induced with money.
Aimiebenomon urged the governor and his party to wait till the time of election to vote out the chairmen, if they can.
He said it was a shame that Okpebholo, an Esan man, would recruit people from Benin and Edo North to come and flog his Esan brothers and sister when he is aware that Ighodalo is also an Esan man.
He mocked APC youths in the state, saying they are seen by their leaders as only good enough as thugs and not as commissioners, adding: “The youths carrying out this shameful act, what is your age? And how old is Cyril Oshiomhole who is the Commissioner for Health? He is not carrying a gun or horse whip. He is carrying a pen.
“Today as a youth, were you taken as one of the commissioners, no?! They gave you guns and horse whips to go and kill. But they are putting their children in positions. Oshiomhole is a sitting senator, his son is a Commissioner. Youths of APC please think of your life and think of your children. Think of your future. You don’t steal mandates, you don’t force yourself on the people. This is a democracy. We are people of peace, please stop harassing and intimidating our people”.
The Country Director of the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, Mr. John Mayaki had earlier called on Okpebholo to reversed the dissolution of the state local government councils by the state House of Assembly.
He said: “I call on Governor Monday Okpebholo to prioritise good governance and refrain from actions that challenge the Constitution and defy the Supreme Court’s rulings on the autonomy of local government councils.
“It is troubling to see the governor seeking to take a ‘pound of flesh’ against his predecessor, former Governor Godwin Obaseki, who himself was widely criticised for refusing to inaugurate elected Assembly members during his tenure. Illegally suspending council chairmen and enlisting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hound them is not only undemocratic but also a blatant abuse of power. Ten wrongs do not make a right. I urge Governor Okpebholo to think bigger and act better”.
