On Tuesday, the Edo Odion movement urged President Bola Tinubu to order the federation’s attorney general and police inspector general to uphold Edo State’s local government autonomy.
Additionally, the research revealed that the use of money as a political coercive instrument erodes public trust in the political system, degrades local governance, and threatens democracy.
Amid the state’s local government council chairmen’s deadlock, this is stated in a statement signed by Dr. Oseye Imudia, the organizer of the Edo Odion movement.
Imudia said it is alarming that the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in the 18 local government councils in Edo State have allegedly refused salaries and emoluments to more than 300 duly elected and appointed local government officials. Imudia cited the historic Supreme Court ruling from July 2024 as well as multiple enrolled orders from the Edo State High Court in Benin City on November 11, December 16, and December 20, 2024.
He claimed that the intentional political witch hunt, purportedly carried out by the Okpebholo-led government, had also impacted more than 150 council members. He pointed out that this intentional political witch hunt, purportedly carried out at the governor’s direction, has also impacted more than 150 council members.
HOLGAs and Directors of Finance and Administration (DFAs) have been used as tools to enforce this punitive measure, effectively crippling local governance.
“It is imperative that justice and due process prevail to protect the autonomy of local governments and uphold the rule of law in Edo State,” he said.
“This is a constitution crisis taken too far and it’s time for the president of the federal republic of Nigeria to immediately correct and direct the attorney general of the federation and the inspector general of police to implement and enforce local government autonomy in Edo State in line with the constitutional provisions.”
