Okpebholo Wants Accountability in Local Govt. Administration – Ohonbamu
By Simeon OSAJIE
The accusations by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP against Governor Monday Okpebholo that he violated local government administration law is not correct, but the governor acted in accordance with the constitution to ensure accountability in the local government administration.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu in a reaction to a call by the Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi on the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi to halt all allocations to the state government said the governor should not be blamed for the impeachment of the local government Chairmen by the PDP Councillors.
According to him, “Pursuant to Section 7 of the Nigeria constitution, each local government must run democratically and it is the duty of the state to pass law for the good running administration and control of local governments.
“Pursuant to that section, the Edo state House of Assembly passed the local government law and it was the House of Assembly that took action against the chairmen and their Vice who refused to present their books when the governor requested for accountability.
“The governor wrote to the House of Assembly that has oversight power over himself also, and it was the House of Assembly that suspended the local government chairmen for failing to be transparent and accountable.
Going further, Ohonbamu added, “In the same vein, it was their councilors who had been angry over the running of the local government administration by the chairmen that impeached them. It was the PDP led house that suspended and impeached their chairmen, therefore where did the governor come in.
“The House of Assembly has the power to even impeach the Governor and Deputy, this they did towards the end of the last administration when they impeached the then Deputy Governor.
“Impeachment is part of the law and democracy . It should therefore not be seen as an abominable act.
“The chairmen were impeached by their councilors who wanted to become acting chairmen or hold one position or the other because impeachment is part of democracy and the governor should not be blamed for the plight of the chairmen and their vice
“The councilors are to be blamed for the impeachment of the chairmen and not the governor.
“It would be recalled that Oredo local government workers are in court against their chairman. If they have administered funds well, they will not be in court, therefore the allegation of non payment of salaries by the state government is not true, they are just coming up with fake imaginary figures.
Commissioner Ohonbamu stated that the PDP accusation of ongoing constitutional crisis and extermination of constitutional democracy in the state is baseless because all steps were taken to ensure that the right thing was done for accountability sake, but the chairmen flouted the orders of the House of Assembly, and it is not true that the governor was involved in the impeachment of the council chairmen either.
“From all indications, it is very obvious that the Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi and the remnant of the party are crying wolf to win the sympathy of Edo people with their fictitious and unfounded accusations against governor Monday Okpebholo who is focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to Edo people,” he said.
