Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution suspending chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state for two months.
The house also mandated leaders of the legislative arms to take over leadership of their respective councils.
The suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was sequel to a motion moved by the member representing Esan North East one, Mr Isibor Adeh and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo two, Mr Donald Okogbe.
The governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo had written a petition to the House over refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the state government.
In the letter, the governor who described their action as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.
When the matter came up for debate, 14 members supported the motion for their suspension, 6 of them were opposed to the motion while 3 members refused to either support or oppose the motion.
The speaker of the House, Mr Blessing Agbebaku had earlier told the members that all of them must speak on the matter.
After they had all spoken, the speaker directed the clerk of the House, Mr Yahaya Omogbai to do a head count of the members who supported or opposed the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies.
There was a mild drama when the Chief Whip of the house and the member representing Akoko-Edo one, Prince Yekini Idaiye said that they had agreed during the executive session that chairmen and their deputies be suspended and wondered why the unnecessary debate over the matter on the floor of the house.
This is infringement and miscarriage of justice. Are the council chairmen subordinate to the governor?
How did they, the chairmen, commit insubordination?
Are they working for him?
The speaker of the house only wants to save his speakership, hence playing the script of his paymaster, the governor.
The local government is NOT an appendage or an arm of the state government. Therefore, the Governor or its agencies has no power whatsoever to remove, discipline, query etc of an elected local government chairman. The body or arm that can as stated above is the counsellors of the local government. What Okpebholo did through the house of assembly is miscarriage of justice. Thanks to the high court that has restored them back today 20/12/2024.