Following an Edo State High Court order, local government chairmen in the state resumed work on Tuesday, despite attempts by suspected thugs in some councils to obstruct their return.
The chairmen, who had been suspended earlier by the Edo State House of Assembly over alleged insubordination and misconduct, were reinstated by the court ruling. However, tensions remain high, with reports of resistance at various council offices.
In Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Chairman Tajudeen Alade resumed his office and attended to official matters. Addressing workers, Alade emphasized the importance of upholding local government autonomy to drive development.
According to him, “I will keep appealing to the governor of Edo State that he remains the father of Edo State, politics is over, we are conscious of the three tiers of government and no tier of government can succeed in isolation, we must work together, political gimmicks must be jettisoned this time because what our people need is development.
“Despite the paucity of funds, throughout the period so far, we have been able to manage the resources of our council to ensure that good governance is brought to the people of Akoko-Edo.
“Autonomy will guarantee the freedom to the people, it will provide the pathway for economic prosperity, local governments can build good roads, befitting health centres for our people, intervene in agriculture and make farming easy for our farmers.”
In Orhionmwon, the Press Secretary to the chairman, Roy Osariemien said the situation was calm and that the councilors were on the same page with the chairman of the council, Newman Ugiagbe.
In Etsako East LG, the chairman, Princess Benedicta Atoh for the second day did not go to the office because of the toxic environment suspected thugs created in the secretariat at Agenebode.
The Press Secretary, Ben Atu told Vanguard on phone, yesterday that “Suspected thugs barricaded the entrance to the secretariat on Monday, it was the workers union, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) that protected the office of the chairman from being destroyed and the chairman does not want any violence but will allow the rule of law to take its place.”