CSOs Call On IGP To Stop Illegal Activities At Edo LG Councils
By Simeon OSAJIE
A group under the aegis of Concerned Civil Society Organisations in Edo state, has urged the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to call his men to order over illegal activities at local government council Secretariat across the State whose constitutional responsibility was supposed to defend the rule of law and protect all tiers of government.
Expressing worry that the faceoff between the Local Government Council chairmen and Governor Monday Okpebholo might snowball into a bigger crisis if not properly handled, the CSOs said the Edo 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.
Representatives of the group, Emmanuel Ogbidi and Kola Edokpayi, spoke in Benin City yesterday at a press conference titled: “Save Democracy in Nigeria and the rule of law in our Local Government administration in Edo State from corrupt political elements”.
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”.
They frowned at the suspension of the 18 Local Government Council chairmen and their vice chairmen by the state House of Assembly and urged Governor Okpebholo to chart the path of honour by allowing them to complete their tenure in office.
The group also appealed to the governor that rather than coercing the chairmen through suspension and impeachment using their councillors, he 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.
Seemingly holding brief for the chairmen, the CSOs said the 18 local government council chairmen were willing to join hands with the governor to develop the state, adding that the governor 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 the governor 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.”, they posited.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts made by The9jaTREND through telephone calls to get reaction from the Police PRO, SP Moses Joel Yamu was unsuccessful. He requested for a copy of the press statement which our reporter made available to him, but 48 hours later, the Police imagemaker is yet to react to the allegation.
