Impeachment Attempt Against Etsako East Council Chairman Foiled As Thugs Snatch Mace
…Councilors pledge loyalty to chairman
By Simeon OSAJIE
There was commotion at the Etsako East Local Government Council secretariat, Agenebode on Tuesday as suspected political thugs invaded the legislative chamber and snatched the mace, symbol of authority of the legislature.
The development caused panic among council workers as the 10 councillors reiterated their support for the chairman of the council, Benedicta Attoh. It was gathered that the objective of the hoodlums was to use the mace to impeach the chairman.
The9jaTREND recalls that local government councils in Edo State had been at loggerheads with the State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo following the suspension of the 18 local government council chairmen for a period of two months.
In a swift reaction to the development, the Councillors, in a statement through the Majority Leader of the House, Ibrahim Abdulsalim Afoso, described those who perpetrated the act as democratic assassins who seek to murder Democracy in Etsako East local government council area.
“We reaffirmed our unwavering support for the council Chairman, Hon. Princess Benedicta Attoh. We are standing with her and by her. Any impeachment from any quarter can’t stand because it’s not coming from the elected councillors. Hon. Benedicta Attoh is the Executive Chairman Etsako East Local Government Council and it will remain so.
“We have just received reports that the legislative mace of the Etsako East Local Government Council has been stolen by unknown persons. We condemn this act and disassociate ourselves from this blatant display of desperation and lawlessness.
“In light of recent events, we, the councillors of Etsako East Local Government Area, wish to reaffirm our unwavering support and loyalty to our Chairman, Hon. Princess Benedicta Attoh. We stand firmly behind her leadership and vision for our local government council.
“We urge the perpetrators of the theft to return the mace immediately and call on the security agencies to investigate this incident and bring the culprits to justice,” Afoso said.
