BENIN CITY – A group known as the Concerned Edo Citizens Forum (CECF) and several individuals have criticized the directive issued by Edo State Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo, which required the 18 local government area chairmen to submit their financial statements within 48 hours.
The directive, made during a courtesy visit by the council chairmen to the governor last Tuesday, expired on Friday at 11 a.m.
As the public awaits the governor’s next move, CECF, through its Coordinator Roy Orhibabor, has urged the governor to abandon the plan.
In a statement made in Benin on Friday, Orhibabor said, “After a critical evaluation, we hereby call on the Governor to reconsider the plan and the subsequent directive to local government chairmen to submit their bank statements.
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The council chairmen are direct representatives of the people, elected through a democratic process, and therefore, the government’s position is undemocratic and undermines the basic principles of democracy.”
He continued, “We also call on local government chairmen to be loyal to the governor and the government, but not to the detriment of the people who elected them to serve. Unborn generations will question them based on their performances.”
A political leader in Edo South, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the governor “is undermining the independence of local governments and the ruling of the Supreme Court.”
“What happened in Rivers State could happen in Edo if the governor acts unilaterally,” he warned.
He added, “It is unfortunate that he has not learned his lessons from Rivers State; otherwise, he wouldn’t have issued such a directive.”
Additionally, public affairs analyst Mike Ohimai commented, “While the governor’s directive may be seen as an attempt to promote transparency and accountability, it is essential to consider the constitutional implications of such a move.”
He emphasized, “The Nigerian Constitution recognizes local governments as the third tier of government, granting them a degree of autonomy and protecting them from direct control by state government.”