The Country Director of the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, Mr. John Mayaki has called on Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo to reversed the dissolution of the state local government councils by the state House of Assembly.
On 18 December, the Assembly passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 18 Local Government Areas for two months. The lawmakers reportedly acted pursuant to a complaint by 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 his statement on Friday, Mayaki called on Okpebholo to immediately address what he called “rising lawlessness in Edo State local government councils”.
He wrote: “I have seen a disturbing video circulating online showing touts and thugs enforcing an order to prevent the elected council chairmen in Edo State from resuming office.
“In particular, I have watched incidents from Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas, while reports indicate that heavy fighting broke out earlier today in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, where some individuals stormed the council premises to deny the Chairman access to his office.
“It is important that the governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, immediately addresses these issues before they escalate into a full-blown crisis. I find it unimaginable that law enforcement agencies could stand by idly while armed touts, wielding horsewhips, attempt to enforce the suspension of council chairmen, as ordered by the House of Assembly at the behest of the governor.
“The Supreme Court has provided clear guidance on this matter, as does the Constitution. The reliance on the state House of Assembly Act 2000 to justify the suspension of council chairmen, as requested by the governor, is both legally flawed and has been publicly condemned by the Attorney General of the Federation.
“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.
“As a society, we must remain consistent in our principles. We condemned Governor Obaseki for undermining democracy, and we cannot now condone similar actions under Governor Okpebholo.
“I must state here that arming touts with horsewhips to intimidate elected council chairmen and bar them from office is a dangerous descent into lawlessness. The role of law enforcement agencies is clear: to uphold the rule of law. Anything short of this invites illegality and chaos”.
