Mohammed Shosanya
Edo State House of Assembly,Tuesday passed a resolution suspending chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state for two months.
It 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 followed 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.
Governor 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.
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 was debated on Monday, 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.
He 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.
Meanwhile,the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in the strongest terms the suspension of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils of the State by the State House of Assembly, following the directive of the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, Chairman, Edo PDP who stated this in a statement in Benin while reacting to the suspension said “We want to clearly state that this action is unconstitutional, null, and void”
He said:”The illegal suspension is a blatant disregard of the recent ruling of the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, and the Supreme Court’s decision, in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, which affirmed the autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“How can a governor direct the State Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the Constitution and are not subordinates of the Governor, the State Assembly, or any other arm of government?
“We are also aware that the Chairmen and their vices weren’t even given the opportunity to be heard in their defence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped up charges, in total disregard to the constitution.
“We want to restate that the Constitution remains supreme, and any attempt to undermine its provisions or disregard the judiciary and its rulings is not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law”, Aziegbemi said.
The PDP Chairman also pointed out that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the entire Assembly have clearly overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action.
“We urge them to immediately reverse their illegal decision, in respect to the rule of law and democratic governance.
“We therefore direct the council chairmen and their vice chairmen to report to their councils tomorrow to carry on with their normal duties.
“We also invite the Attorney General and minister of justice of the federation to call the Edo State Governor to order as his action is not only in breach of the constitution but a threat to security” he declared.