By DADA AYOKHAI
The desperation to get the Etsako West local government chairman impeached by the alleged agents of the state government got to the climax yesterday with the alleged imports of fake people who disguise as legislators in a kangaroo arrangements and pronounced the impeachment of the LGA Chairman Hon. Marvelous Zibiri and his vice, Benjamin Ojetu.
In a viral video, the 12 legislators representing the 12 wards of the the local government area claimed that the purported impeachment took place
at about 4:30 pm, when the Legislators were together in a location.
In another viral video, the 6 Impostors along with a speaker masquerading as legislators sat in the legislative chamber of the local government in a way the camera cannot capture their faces.
The motion to impeach the chairman was moved by a majority leader and second by another legislator with none of them announcing their names in line with parliamentary procedure.
The speaker in pronouncing the impeachment said ” I, the speaker Etsako West LGA hereby impeach Hon Zibiri Marvelous and cohort the Vice Chairman, Benjamin Ojetu.
Etsako West local government is the home of the APC state chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, Chief of Staff to the governor, Gani Audu and the former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.
Political observers described the drama at the local government a threat to democracy taken too far.
The leader of the Etsako West legislative arm, Hon. Abdul Yamah, in a reaction to the ugly scenario delivered a forceful condemnation of the unlawful invasion of the council legislative chamber, denouncing the individuals as “hirelings and thugs.”
He asserted that their actions represent a profound violation of the integrity of the chamber.
Yamah declared, “This blatant and intentional assault on our institution is a severe affront to democracy, a flagrant mockery of the rule of law, and a direct attack on the sanctity of the legislative process.”
He further emphasized, “The premeditated execution of this illegitimate and sham impeachment process against the Executive Chairman of Etsako West local government, Hon. Marvellous Zibiri, epitomizes extreme political desperation and lawlessness. This is a clear and blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people by utilizing non-state actors to destabilize our duly constituted legislative body.”
The conflict between the elected council chairmen and the state government is far from over.
The state government is intent on exerting control over the councils, for reasons that remain unclear to the public and even some of the governor’s supporters.
As this struggle continues, both democracy and local government autonomy are facing serious threats.
There is still no clear indication of how this standoff will be ultimately resolved.
