The suspension of the 18 elected local government chairmen and their deputies in Edo State has received the backing of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole, now a senator representing Edo North senatorial district, expressed his support for the decision of the State House of Assembly while speaking to newsmen at his residence in Iyamho, Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to Oshiomhole, the council chairmen were paying huge amounts to the immediate past Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki. He said that the new Sheriff in town, Governor Monday Okpebholo, is stopping the bad guys and the bleeding that Edo was going through.
He said, “People already know that there is a new Sheriff in town. He is stopping all the bad guys and stopping the bleeding that Edo was going through.
“It is not a secret that Local Government Councils were paying huge amounts of money to his predecessor (Godwin Obaseki), and he says ‘stop’, not while I am here. We want the money to be used to develop the localities.”
The Edo State House of Assembly had suspended the 18 Local government chairmen and their deputies for two months for alleged insubordination and gross misconduct.
The suspension followed a petition to the House by Governor Okpebholo, who accused the council executives of refusing to submit financial account statements of their local government to the state government.