SUSPENSION: Okpebholo, Councils bosses, PDP Refuse To Shift Grounds

. . .As Edo Govt, EFCC move to stop alleged financial infractions

BY Andy Asemota

The Edo State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC have taken major steps to curb the alleged financial malfeasance in local governments in the state.

This, they said, they aim to achieve through investigation of the financial records and documents of the local councils.

The Edo government’s move led to two month suspension clamped on the 18 local government chairmen last week by the Edo State House of Assembly while the EFCC has summoned the embattled chairmen to Benin Zonal Directorate for investigation.

However, to end the suspension of the chairmen, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Councils chairmen and their councils leaders on Monday rose from an emergency meeting in the party’s Secretariat with a resolution that the Councils chairmen “are to return to their respective councils’ secretariats and continue to serve” their constituents.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the Publicity Secretary, Edo PDP Caretaker committee, Chris Nehikhare, noted that the Councils chairmen resolved to pursue legal action against anyone, who without the authority of the Councils bosses tamper with the Councils’ resources.

According to the PDP spokesman, they would be sending a letter to Edo State House of Assembly demanding the immediate implementation of the existing court judgments related to the suspension.

The statement reads in part: “The party strongly condemns the ongoing intimidation, manipulation and blackmail tactics employed by the APC-led state government.”

Meanwhile, Edo APC chieftains, the State Attorney General and many analysts had disagreed with the PDP and the Councils bosses over the suspension of the chairmen, citing the prevailing constitutional provisions and democratic structures on ground in the state.

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