Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of orchestrating the suspension of 18 Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen by the State House of Assembly to enable Okpebholo access and squander the N800 million monthly special security funds, the environmental funds, and other funds in the local governments’ accounts.
In a statement to Henzodaily on Wednesday, Obaseki’s Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, claimed that the whole ploy kicked off with a meeting at the Government House where Okpebholo instructed the council chairmen to submit their statement of account from September to November 2024 within 48 hours.
He said this was followed by a letter from Okpebholo, issued through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Community, and Chieftaincy Affairs, to the 18 council chairmen, instructing them not to utilize or expend the funds without his approval.
Osagie alleged that this directive was to ensure that the funds remained intact in the local government coffers while providing him with sufficient time to actualize his devious plan to hijack the 18 local government councils.
According to Obaseki’s aide, the Edo State House of Assembly was subsequently co-opted into the scheme through a combination of threats and inducements.
He said: “This culminated in yesterday’s sitting, where the 18 council chairmen were illegally suspended, paving the way for the governor to access and squander the N800 million monthly special security funds, environmental funds, and other monies in the local governments’ accounts.
“Recall that revenue to the State Government plunged by over 75 percent, nosediving from N8 billion to about N2 billion monthly, as a result of the lack transparency in the revenue collection and administration system under the Monday Okpebholo-led government.
“The slump was said to be linked to the turf wars over revenue collection by thugs allegedly hired by Okpebholo and used doing the 2024 governorship election who were embroiled in a fierce battle for control of the various revenue points in the State. Okpebholo, dazed by their activities, had announced a temporary suspension of revenue collection, leaving the State without revenue for several weeks
“Desperate for funds following the revenue slump, the governor appears to have resorted to looting and exploiting local government finances which is why he orchestrated their illegal suspension to grant him unfettered access to these funds.
“We want to restate that the suspension is unconstitutional, null, and void. It is a blatant affront to the recent ruling by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, as well as the Supreme Court’s decision in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, which unequivocally affirmed the autonomy and independence of local governments.”
Osagie said Okpebholo must understand that the Local Government is neither an appendage nor a subordinate of the State Government, but a constitutionally recognized third tier of government, whose independence and autonomy are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We condemn this blatant assault on democracy and the rule of law and urge the Edo State House of Assembly to act in the best interest of the people of Edo State and uphold the rule of law by immediately reversing this decision,” he added.