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Edo CSOs Appeal to Governor Okpebholo to Woo Suspended LG Chairmen Instead of Adopting Coercion to Take Over Councils

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A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Edo State, has pleaded with Governor Monday Okpebholo to restore the 18 suspended local government council chairmen to their offices to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people and not to listen to those they claimed did not mean well for democracy and the rule of law in the state.
The CSOs cautioned the governor that those pushing him to do otherwise were determined to push him out of President Bola Tinubu’s favour into the negative side of history where the hate of the people and rejection was inevitable.
The group weighed in on the crisis in Benin City on Monday at a “Conference to save Democracy in Nigeria and the rule of law in our Local Government administration in Edo State from corrupt political elements”, against the backdrop of suspension of the chairmen and their deputies on December 17, 2024 for alleged gross misconduct and insubordination, and the series of impeachments and defections that had followed the faceoff between them and the governor.
Spokespersons of the group, Emmanuel Ogbidi and Kola Edokpayi also called for the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to stem the tide of illegalities which it claimed was being aided by the Nigeria Police whose constitutional responsibility was supposed to defend the rule of law and protect all tiers of government.
Frowning at the suspension of the 18 Local Government Councils chairmen and their vice chairmen by the state House of Assembly, they urged Governor Okpebholo to chart the path of honour by allowing them to complete their tenure in office.
They said rather than coercing the chairmen through suspension and impeachments using their councillors, the governor should instead woo them and their deputies to key into his five points agenda. They said the governor, being a man of peace, must follow such path of peace to the letter and have his name written in gold.
The CSOs advocated that the 18 local government council chairmen were willing to join hands with the governor to develop the state, adding that he needed to communicate with them in clear terms his five-point agenda and let them key in, to drive the vision of his administration.
They appealed to Governor Okpebholo to allow the elected council chairmen to go back to their various offices to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people and not to listen to those they claimed did not mean well for democracy and the rule of law in the state.
“Your excellency, those that are pushing in this direction are determined to push you out of the President’s favour and push you into the negative side of history where the hate of the people and rejection is inevitable.
“Resist them. Resist the temptation of going like every other normal politician whose name today does not pride the state but brings shame. Your Excellency, do things differently and achieve a different result that is people oriented”, the duo said.
The group further urged governor Okpebholo to respect the wish of President Bola Tinubu who said that the local government council chairmen should be allowed to carry out their legitimate duties pending the expiration of their tenure.
“Recall the position of Mr. President, Senator Bola Tinubu in his New Year pally with the vice president and some governors, including your humble self. Mr. President urged you to collaborate with the local governments to drive development at the grassroots level.
“He never asked the governors to topple nor overthrow the local government administrations in their respective states, especially when they are perceived to be politically different on party basis”, they posited.
Expressing grave concern that the faceoff might snowball into a bigger crisis if not properly handled, the CSOs said the state Commissioner of Police must wake up as a matter of urgency as he could not claim ignorance of the acts of violence that had plagued the state in the past weeks with no thugs arrested and investigated.
The duo said, “While we will assure the police of the support of Edo people to do their constitutional duty of maintaining law and order, we will not fail to resist the attempt of collusion, compromise by the force and other security agencies in undermining the third tier of government in Edo State. Do not allow your office or men to be dragged into these illegalities, Mr. CP”.

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Written by Adekunbi Ero

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