By Lucky Isibor
Members of Concerned Civil Society Organizations (Concerned CSOs) in Edo State have called on Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State and the Edo State House of Assembly to immediately reinstate the 18 Local Government (LG) Chairmen and their Vice-Chairmen that were suspended from office last Tuesday, 17 December, describing the action as illegal, null and void as according to the group they lacked the bona-fides to do so.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, 20 December in Benin City the Edo State capital, spokesperson for the Concerned CSOs, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi accused the Edo State House of Assembly of derailing from their Constitutional responsibility by delving into the suspension of elected Local Government Council which he noted the Supreme Court has granted full autonomy as interpreted in the suit instituted by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation against Attorneys General of Abia State and thirty five other states delivered on 11 July.
“The need to save our democracy and uphold the rule of law by every sincere and patriotic Nigerian and Edolite is now or never, irrespective of your political affiliations, ethnic inclination cum religious belief.
“We must stand to defend the very tier of government which is of most importance to the people at the grass root in delivering the dividends of democracy to their door step via effective LG administration which must be duly constituted and democratically elected.
“Following the recent Supreme Court judgment delivered on the 11th of July 2024, which gave autonomy to the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria, including the 18 LG in Edo state, makes it a law in the land and supercedes every other laws which is at variance including local government administrative laws.
“The action of the governor and EDHA is illegal and unpopular. It negates the principles of the rule of law and democratic tenets. The action of the governor and Honourable members amount to executive rascality and legislative ‘boyboyism’ or if you like rubber stamping. No doubt the governor has been ill-advised and must retrace his step as a matter of urgency for the sake of peace in the land and posterity.
“The governor must be reminded that the LG bosses are not accountable to him, but the people in the LG. They are not subordinate to him but are term base elected officials in the third tier of government just as the governor is at the state level. Therefore, only the local government legislative arm can call the chairman to account and suspend same following due process.
“The House of Assembly must be reminded of their core responsibilities in the doctrine of separation of powers, as they owe the people. Part of their oversights is to curtail the excesses of the executive arm of government and guide same in a bid to strengthen our democratic system. The legislative arm begin to lose its potency and trust of the people when everything passes through them without putting the interest of the people first because they are tired to the apron strings of the governor.
While enumerating the implications of disobedience of the plethoria of Supreme Courts judgements against State Governors’ interference in the affairs of Local Government Councils in the country, the CSOs made a seven point demand on the state government and the House of Assembly which they pointed out would be appreciated if granted within 72 hours.
“The governor must understand the implications of his decisions. In another recent Supreme Court judgement which forbids any state without a properly constituted local government administration from accessing allocation from FAAC, it therefore implies that for the next two months in Edo, local government workers would not receive their salaries, LG pensioners would not be paid and contractors as well. This will amount to economic stagnation and starvation of the people.
“We therefore call on the state Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo and the EDHA to yield the superior and objective voice of reasoning as follows: To desist from interfering in LG administration in the state.
“Partner with the various LGs irrespective of their political differences to deliver the dividends of democracy to both the urban and rural dwellers in the state. The House of Assembly must immediately revisit their earlier decision of suspending the LG chairmen, but allow them to continue their work in serving the local government as elected officials.
“That this actions will be most effective and appreciated by Edo people within the next 72 hours. As failure to do the needful will leave the entire Edo people with no choice than to rise up and save our democracy by every legitimate means possible.
“We therefore call on Mr President, Pres. Bola Tinubu to call Edo State Governor to order immediately, as this path he is toeing negates the renewed hope agenda of his administration following their role in the last Supreme Court judgement which liberated 774 LGs from the very iron grip of the states”.
Also speaking at the press conference, Marxist Kola Edokpayi stated that the Edo State House of Assembly aired in their suspension of the Local Government Council Chairmen and their Vice as the Supreme Court has interpreted Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to the effect that only the Legislative Arm of the various Councils can suspend or remove the Chairmen.
According to Marxist Edokpayi, “We are operating a democratic system of government where the rule of law prevails.
“We have the federal government, the state governments and the local governments and these tiers of government are supposed to be autonomous. In line with Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, states that the local governments shall be democratically elected. The various Chairmen of the Councils were democratically elected, although some of us were not so happy with the process, but they were elected, those who were aggrieved went to the tribunal, so we don’t see the need why the local government Chairmen should be sequestered or made to be tied to the apron strings of the Governor like siamese twins.
“There is a valid Supreme Court judgment in the case of Attorney General of the Federation against the Attorney General of Abia State and thirty five states Attorneys General, where the Supreme Court ruled in favour of local government autonomy”.