Esan North-East Legislative Arm Passes Vote Of Confidence On Chairman, Kelly Inedegbor
By Simeon OSAJIE
Members of the Esan North-East Local Government Council Legislative Arm have passed a vote of implicit confidence and pledged their loyalty and support to the council chairman, Hon. Dr. Kelly Inedegbor.
The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by the Majority leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Smart Eboigbe and was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Lawrence Inegbenosun. The motion was unanimously adopted on 27th of December, 2024 at the Chief Enaholo Legislative Chambers, Olika House, Esan North-East Local Government Council Area.
The solidarity was an apparent move by the councillors to avoid being used to remove the council chairman and vice chairman through suspension by the state lawmakers that drew the anger of Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
However, this development, has continued to generate reactions from members of the public, who berated the governor over the suspension order.
The Supreme Court judgment in Abuja recently, bolstered by a subsequent Edo State High Court ruling in Benin, has validated the mandate of the 18 council chairmen.
The two judgments restrained the Executive and State House of Assembly from interfering in the affairs of the local government councils in the country, thereby safeguarding democratic principles and upholding the rule of law.
This legal affirmation fortified the Chairmen’s positions, thwarting perceived attempts to undermine democratic processes.
In the same development, the Legislative Arm of the council led by the Leader of the House, Rt Hon. Paul Akhere Uhomesili also paid a solidarity visit to the LGA Acting Chairman of the People Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr. Clifford Inegbedion in the spirit of Christmas season and also used the opportunity to pledge their loyalty to the party.
Speaking to the Councillors, the LGA Acting Chairman, Mr Clifford Inegbedion appreciated the role of the Councillors and commended them for their conduct since their assumption of office.
In his address, the leader of Esan North-East Legislative Arm, Rt Hon Paul Akhere Uhomesili stated that the Chairman, Hon. Kelly Inedegbor and his vice, Hon. Engr Thomas Otoibhili and themselves, the Councillors were democratically elected to pilot the affairs of the local council for a term of three years in office, saying that no amount of intimidation or enticement will persuade them to turn their back on a caring Chairman who priorities human welfare. He said any external pressure to impeach the chairman would fail. “We are happy that the Benin High Court has reinstated our chairman so that he can continue to serve humanity”, he said.
Hon. Paul Akhere Uhomesili also enumerated the developmental strides of Hon. Kelly Inedegbor which he said are visible across the eleven wards in the locality since his assumption of office. He described the council boss as a man who believe so much in the wellbeing of the good people of Uromi/Uzea; hence his people oriented programs and project which has greatly impacted the lives of the people of the locality and called for more support from all stakeholders for a continuation of the progress being achieved by the administration of Hon. Kelly Inedegbor.
The other Councillors who took their turn to speak warned against truncating democracy in the state as they assured the Chairman of their unflinching support. They described him as a father, a role model and an effective chairman who made a difference in the lives of Councillors and the general public through his human welfare packages and passionate support for humanity. They enumerated his infrastructural developmental strides across the local government in his fifteen months in office.
