By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo State Governor Sen. Monday Okpebhbolo has extended his house-cleaning exercise to the local government areas.
The governor reportedly issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the council chairmen, demanding a comprehensive statement of accounts for their respective councils.
Sen. Okpebholo reportedly gave this directive during a session at the Government House in Benin, with the 18 council chairmen in the state present.
The council chairmen were reported to have visited the governor to congratulate him on his electoral victory and to discuss the challenges faced by their councils.
Incidentally, the council chairmen present were elected under the PDP platform during the previous administration of Godwin Obaseki.
They have been living under the palpable fear of a potential dissolution of their councils since the PDP lost the Edo guber election in September.
The state deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, represented the governor, who was unable to attend the meeting.
According to the deputy governor, the council chairmen are required to submit their statements of account to the Assets Verification Committee through the office of the Secretary to the Government of Edo State, SSG, covering the period from September 4, 2023, to the present.
Governor Okpebholo promised the chairmen that would work closely with them for a better State .
“I have listened to you keenly, the ALGON Chairman. The Governor is a leader of all of us. Election has come and gone and we are all one family. The Governor has asked me to assure you that we are one family.
“He has also asked me to tell you that we will work closely together. I guess you are aware that few weeks ago, the Assets Verification Committee was constituted.
“Mr. Governor is committed to transparency and accountability in this Government and that Committee would not have the resources to go across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State.
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Earlier, Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo State Chapter, and Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Newman Ugiagbe, who led the 18 local government chairmen on the courtesy visit, pledged their loyalty to Governor Monday Okpebholo and promised to collaborate with him to ensure that the administration succeeds.
“We are here to congratulate the Governor and the Deputy on the mandate Edo people gave them and here to pledge our loyalty to your administration.
“Our doors are open to your instructions, policies and programmes, as we are ready to bring your policies down to the grassroots to enable our people benefit from the dividends of democracy as we will work to ensure your administration succeeds.”
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