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The Edo State House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution
to dissolve the 18 local government councils with immediate effect. This is
sequel to a letter from the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, requesting the
House to dissolve the councils.

The motion was moved by the majority leader, Phillip Shaibu,
and was seconded by the deputy speaker, Paul Ohonbamu.

The council chairmen were directed to hand over all government
properties in their possession to the head of local government administration
in their respective areas, just as the accounts of the councils remain frozen
with immediate effect.

The constitution of the Edo State Independent Electoral
Commission (EDSIEC) by Mr. Oshiomhole last week was an indication that the local
councils might soon be scrapped to make way for another election.

Caught unawares

Many of the local government bosses were, however, caught
unawares. Interestingly, Mr. Godsent Akhabue of Esan West local government was
putting finishing touches to a programme for the commissioning of some projects
in his local council on Thursday.

The chairmen were elected in December 2007 during the
government of former governor, Oseriemen Osunbor.

In a swift reaction, the Edo State chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Orbih, faulted Mr. Oshiomhole’s action, describing
it as illegal and unconstitutional.

“I am not surprised by the illegal action of the governor
because from his behaviour and conduct he has shown he has no respect for the
constitution. He is used to taking arbitrary decisions,” Mr. Orbih said.

He called on Mr. Oshiomhole to rescind his decision, saying
that if the governor failed to do so, the PDP would call on the federal
government not to release the local government allocations meant for the state
until he returned the local government administrations back to the elected
officials to complete their tenure.

According to him, Section 7 of the Constitution guaranteed the
tenure of elected local governments. He also said there were three tiers of
government and that the laws that govern the three tiers must be respected.

“The man thrives in illegality. It is like the federal
government saying it has cut short the tenure of state governors. Has he asked
himself how he will feel if the federal government wakes up and dissolves his
administration?” Orbih further said.