•Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State
An Edo-based socio political group, known as ‘Gidigba’ has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of diverting the sum of N15.6 billion, November/December 2024 Local Government Council’s allocations.
GIDIGBA which made the allegation in a statement signed by its coordinator, Sunday Idugboe, noted that the governor’s alleged action should be seen as a blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy, delivered on July 11, 2024, reports Daily Independent.
According to Idugboe, “This is an affront on the constitution which must not be allowed to continue and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s attention must be drawn to it for him to act now so as to restore constitutional democracy in Edo State.
“The President must ensure that the governor’s actions are aligned with the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance, particularly when the Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice- Hon. Lateef Fagbemi validated this decision by emphasizing the federal government’s support for local government autonomy.
“Gov. Okpebholo’s actions seem to undermine this judgment with this alleged diversion and, it appears to be clearer that the primary motive behind the suspension of the 18 local government chairmen and their deputies in the state by the state house of assembly allegedly influenced by the governor is for the diversion.
“Besides, this alleged diversion of the November/December allocation has raised serious concerns about Governor Okpebholo’s administration, with many questioning its accountability and transparency, especially now that there is no evidence of the transfer into the various LGC accounts, the November/December allocations”.
Gidigba group also frowned at the alleged use of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, by the state government to harass the local government chairmen after the attempt to impeach them through various questionable means which, it said, has also failed.
According to the group, “Governor Okpebholo’s administration has been using trumped-up charges of insubordination and financial mismanagement to witch-hunt the elected 18 LGAs Council Chairmen, who have been purportedly suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly for two months.
“This suspension has been widely condemned by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ALGON, which views it as an undermining of democracy, supreme court and other judgments, including that of the Edo state high court of Justice.
“But our concern is that it is not possible for the 18 LGC chairmen to be guilty of the same offence alongside their vice Chairmen, hence we are attributing the entire scenario by the state government to an attempt to control the council’s resources.
“While we describe the situation as dire and warrants immediate attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are also calling on the state governor to obey the Supreme Court ruling that local governments can manage their finances, collect revenues, and allocate resources without state government interference and approval.
Reacting to all the allegations, Edo State Commissioner for information, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu said, “If the governor can frown at the way and manner the local government chairmen dissipate council resources meant for the grassroots development, he can never be party to diverting local government allocations.
“The governor wants physical independence for local government operations. Governor Okpebholo is a strong advocate for transparency and accountability, and the governor’s commitment to these values is evident in his disapproval of the reckless management of local government resources.
“This stance is particularly significant in light of President Tinubu’s government prioritizing the financial and administrative independence of local government areas LGAs, as reaffirmed by the Supreme Court’s July judgment,” Ohonbamu declared.
