PDP differs as Okpebholo accuses LG chairs of N12bn diversion
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, alleged that the suspended 18 local government council chairmen diverted and remitted about N12bn to leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in 15 months.
However, the Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi, denied the allegation, insisting that such money was not given to PDP leaders by the suspended council chairmen.
Aziegbemi urged the governor to back his claim with evidence and advised him not to take the law into his own hands but to refer any such matter to the anti-corruption agency in the state.
The Edo State House of Assembly, on December 17, 2024, passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 18 local government areas of the state.
The resolution followed a petition from the governor over the refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their councils to the state government.
The suspended chairmen took legal action, with the Federal High Court in Abuja ruling that the status quo be maintained, pending the determination of the suit.
Leaders of the legislative houses in the councils have since assumed executive functions following the impeachment of some council chairmen, while two of the suspended chairmen defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speaking while hosting the acting chairmen and councillors of the 18 councils, who were at the Government House on a courtesy visit, Okpebholo stressed that he had called the suspended chairmen to explain certain spending, but they could not.
Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, disclosed the details of the meeting in a statement on Tuesday, titled, “Gov Okpebholo: Over N12bn Remitted to PDP Leaders in 15 Months by Suspended LG Chairmen.”
Okpebholo was quoted as saying, “When I came into office, I had a meeting with the Accountant-General, and he showed me some books. Some of these expenses had no explanation. I picked interest in one spending because I saw an item labeled ‘Environmental Security Funding.’ I had never heard of that before, and the amount involved was huge—N800m every month. These chairmen were allegedly contributing this money and giving it to leaders of a party.”
The governor said the revelation led to a meeting with the chairmen, who were asked to explain the money allocated to environmental security funding, but they could not.
He added, “I invited the chairmen but could not meet with them. My deputy met with them. He asked them to explain certain expenditures, but none could. He asked them to provide their books, and they agreed, saying they would do so in 24 hours. But my deputy said no, let it be in 48 hours. These chairmen didn’t comply with the instructions within two weeks, as none of them submitted their books.
“Following this, I sent a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to look into their records. As a former parliamentarian, I know there is a body that has a function over them, so I also sent a letter to the Edo State House of Assembly. They were invited but refused to meet with the lawmakers, which led to their suspension for two months.”
He alleged that these chairmen engaged in wasteful spending, even when schools lacked teachers.
“When you visit primary schools, you find two or three teachers, whereas there should be 10 to 12 teachers,” Okpebholo lamented.
“I want to thank you because the narrative has been changed by you people. What you’ve done is not outside the law. Impeaching someone who is corrupt and has used local funds for personal gain is not wrong. I recognise you as my chairmen. The only way to drive development at the grassroots level is through you. The President also recognises the local government and has advised governors.”
“I am ready to work with the chairmen of various local government councils. I am committed to working with you to ensure that various council areas progress. You have full authority as local government chairmen. The Local Government Commission will cooperate with you to ensure you succeed in your duties to serve the grassroots people,” he said.
He warned the council leaders that the money belonged to the local governments for the benefit of the grassroots.
“The local government money does not belong to you; it belongs to the grassroots. So, go and work with the resources,” Okpebholo emphasised.
The Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Damian Lawani, who led the acting council bosses on the courtesy visit, assured the governor that the chairmen were ready to work closely with the administration to ensure the people at the grassroots enjoyed the dividends of democracy.
In response to the N12bn allegation, the state PDP challenged Okpebholo to back his claim with evidence.
“No such money was given to PDP leaders, and we challenge the governor to provide evidence to support that claim. He should specify who received what, when, how and from whom,” Aziegbemi stated.
“As the state chairman, I can confidently say I am not aware that such money was given to anyone. The route the governor is taking to justify the illegal suspension of the chairmen is unreasonable. Even if any money was paid to anyone, we expect the governor to report it to the anti-corruption agency for investigation. We live in a country and a state where the rule of law should prevail. The governor is merely throwing around figures and belittling the office of the governor of Edo State,” Aziegbemi said.
