By Andy Asemota
The legislative council of Egor Local Government in Edo State has taken the lead in propagating the anti-corruption crusade in the state through the impeachment of the LG Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.
The sudden impeachment of the council boss, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, and her deputy, Hon. Frank Osawe, on Friday, December 27, 2024, and the emergence of Hon. Kelvin Eguakun, as the acting chairman of the council, have caught many in the local government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that dominated the council unawares.
The surprise is due the profile of the late father of the embattled chairman, Brig-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, who as the former military governor in defunct Midwestern Region and old Bendel State.
Indeed, equally significant is the fact the hammer of the council fell suddenly on Hon. Ogbemudia, who had early this year escaped impeachment during the immediate past PDP administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Following the sack of the chairman and her vice was made public, many political observers predict what the outcome portends for the future of 17 other embattled chairmen in the state who had been slammed with two month suspension by the State House of Assembly over insubordination and alleged corruption.
The widely held opinion is the various councils that were reluctant to move against their chairmen are now emboldened by the stand of the incumbent Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, against financial malfeasance.
Currently, the state government has set up a committee to investigate the financial activities and records of its 18 suspended local government chairmen while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has beamed its searchlight on the embattled chairmen over alleged corruption.
It against this background that legislative council of Egor has not only fired the LG Chairman and Vice Chairman but also the Council Leader, Hon. Bosede Omokaro.
At the the local government, it was gathered the Council Majority Leader, Him. Iwinosa Enabulele and Hon. Eliot Inneh Enni (Chief Whip) were equally suspended for failing to provide effective oversight and neglecting their leadership responsibilities.
Subsequently, the leadership acted swiftly upon receiving a signed petition from four Council members for the removal of the local government chairman and her vice.
ABC NEWS gathered that the unfolding development highlights the dynamics within Egor LG and underscores the council’s efforts to address alleged misconduct and uphold accountability within it’s leadership.
Critical among the issues that culminated in charge of leadership in the council included the inability of the legislative arm’s leadership to collaborate effectively with the chairman, particularly in ensuring timely payment of salaries.
It was further gathered that a two month delay in councillors salaries was seen as a politically motivated act aimed at coercing the councillors into submission.
The impeachment proceedings have been formally documented in the Edo State Government Gazette.
Specifically, the council chairman and vice chair were fired based on four charges of gross misconduct, namely: abuse of office, finan misappropriation, unlawful withholding of statutory allowances of a principal member and three other Council members as well as budget padding.
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