The Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Anthony Aziegbemi, has been charged to halt immediately his directive to the 18 local government councils’ chairmen and their deputies suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly to report to their councils today, December 18, to carry on with their normal duties.
The State House of Assembly ordered the suspension of the councils’ bosses for two months and also approved, in the interim, that the head of the legislative arms of the councils should oversee the running of the local governments under the period.
The suspension followed the petition by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to the Assembly to probe alleged gross misconduct, insubordination and corruption in respect of the refusal of the council chairmen to submit their financial records two weeks after the expiration of his ultimatum.
In a statement in Benin City on Wednesday by the Executive Director of the Alliance For Good Governance, Henry Ikponmwosa, the group said the act of preventing the Leaders of the Councils, as the head of the local governments legislative arms are otherwise known, from steering the affairs of their councils as directed by the State House of Assembly amounts to undermining the executive and the legislative branches of the state government, the local government councils and the Nigeria’s Constitution.
“This potential violation flies in the face of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is an act undemocratic encroachment.
The erosion portends great danger for the local governments, the state, Nigeria and constitute a threat to our democracy.
“The chairman of an opposition party, or the ruling party for that matter, is not constitutionally in any role able to override or reverse the legislative arm or any arm of government.”The PDP’s plot to violate an order of the Edo State House of Assembly is a new low in lawlessness and illegality. The opposition party is implicitly conveying the message that it’s unnecessary to obey constituted authority. The only result is anarchy and chaos.
“Essentially, the PDP – led local government administration and it’s chairman in Edo appear bent on preventing and perverting the rule of law. This action is tantamount to assault on the institution of government,” it warned.
The group said the truth of matter is the PDP chairman is encouraging the local government councils’ chairmen and their deputies to sabotage the directives of the state law makers under the pretext of alleged court ruling and Supreme Court’s decision.
The communique further reads in part: “Hiding under a cunningly manufactured rights of the suspended councils’ bosses to fair hearing to sabotage the order of the state house of assembly is an invitation to chaos.
“Never in the history of Edo State, indeed Nigeria, has a party openly humiliated the legislative and the executive arms as the opposition is doing presently.
“Having done everything against the governor to reduce his rising profile, destroy his achievements and stop his re-election in 2028, the opposition party has now moved to destroy the state legislature.
“But we want to sound a note of caution: once the government is destroyed, then their is nothing left.
This is the highest form of impunity. Its a gross violation of the constitution and attack on the institution of government, if the Councils Leaders are prevented from piloting their councils in the interim.”
About The Author
