Okphebolo Finally Clears Air On Impeachment Of Corrupt Local Government Chairmen

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday said impeaching corrupt elected political office holders is not wrong and also not a sin.

The Governor accused the suspended 18 Local Government chairmen in the state of remitting about N12 billion to leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Okpebholo also alleged that the councils’ chairmen who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on September 2, 2023 remitted the money to the leaders of PDP in 15 months.

He raised the allegations while playing host to the acting Chairmen and Councilors of the 18 Local Government Areas, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City.

“Impeaching somebody who is corrupt, who has used the local funds for his personal gain is not wrong. I recognize you as my Chairmen.

“The only way to drive development to the grassroots is through you. The President also recognized the local government and advised Governors.

“I am ready to work with the Chairmen of various local government Councils. I am ready to work with you to see that various Council areas progress. You have the full power as local government chairmen.

“The local government Commission will cooperate with you to ensure you succeed in your duties to serve the grassroots people.

“The money belongs to the local government. It does not belong to you but the grassroots. So, go and work with the resources,” he advised.

He, however, commended the acting Chairmen and the Councilors for their courageous act in upholding democracy and ensuring transparency at the Local Government level.

He opined that the N12 billion allegedly given to the opposition leaders by the chairmen did not belong to any individual, irrespective of the status.

The governor further alleged that the council chairmen were remitting the sum of N800 million as “Environmental security funding” to the PDP leaders.

“When I came into the office, I had a meeting with the Accountant-General, and he showed me some books. Some of these spending had no explanation.

“I picked interest in some of the spending because I saw an item which was tagged “Environmental security funding. ” I have never heard of that before, and the amount involved was huge, N800 million every month. These Chairmen were contributing this money and giving it to the leaders of a party.

“This revelation led to a meeting with the Chairmen who were asked to explain the money allocated to Environmental Security funding, but they could not.

“I invited the Chairmen but could not meet with them but my Deputy met with them. He asked them to explain certain spending, but none could explain. He asked them to provide their books, and they agreed and said they would in 24 hours provide the books, but the Deputy said no, let it be in 48 hours.

“But these Chairmen didn’t obey the instructions for two weeks as none of them submitted their books. Following the development, I sent a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to look into their records.

“As a former parliamentarian, I know there is a body that has a function over them, so I sent a letter to Edo State House of Assembly, EDHA and they were invited and they refused to come and they were suspended for two months”, he added.

He posited that the Chairmen were engaged in wasteful spending “even when our schools did not have teachers.

“When you get to primary schools, you find two or three teachers, where you are supposed to have 10 to 12 teachers.

“I want to thank you because the narrative has been changed by you people as what you have done is not out of the law”, he stated.

Earlier, Damian Lawani, State Chairman Local Government Commission who led the acting local government Chairmen on the courtesy visit, assured the Governor that the Chairmen are ready to work closely with the administration and ensure the people at the grassroots enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Lawani, also added that the Chairmen working at the grassroots level are in full support of the governor’s developmental stride in the state and are ready to collaborate with the government to ensure the people at the grassroots enjoy good governance.

Responding, Iredia Benjamin Osas, Acting Chairman of Uhunmwonde, Godsent Agboino, Esan West and Joy Ohonyon, Owan West Local Governments all pledged their loyalty to the administration.

They assured the Governor and the people of Edo State that they would collaborate and support the Senator Okpebholo-led administration to succeed and deliver the dividends of democracy to Edo State, especially people at the grassroots.