By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has reinstated Alabi Oshionogue as Acting Chairman of Akoko Edo Local Government, a post he was impeached from by seven councillors last week.
His impeachment was announced in a letter signed by seven out of the 10 councillors of the local government on January 28 over a allegation of your abuse of office, high-handedness, embezzlement of council funds, anti-party activities, financial recklessness, forgery and constant disobedience to constituted authorities.”
The councillors had cited allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement, and anti-party activities, among others. However, Governor Okpebholo intervened, ordering Oshionogue’s return to office pending investigation by the House of Assembly
Oshionogue had denied the allegations, calling them “false and politically motivated”. He vowed to continue serving the people, backing Governor Okpebholo’s grassroots projects.
Governor Okpebholo was said to have intervened in the Akoko-Edo crisis at a stakeholders meeting in Irrua, headquarters of Esan Central local government area.
He ordered Oshionogue return to office pending the outcome of the Assembly’s investigation.
Okpebholo, however, vowed to handover anyone found culpable in the allegations to security agencies for prosecution.
According a sources, Governor Okpebholo called for status quo before the impeachment be maintained while the House of Assembly be allowed to do its investigation.
The embattled chairman had described as false the allegations levelled against him, noting that he would not be intimidated to share the people’s commonwealth with a few individuals.
He said, “The allegations are false, and the actions of the councillors are politically motivated.
“I stand with the people and with Governor Monday Okpebholo, who is delivering people-oriented projects to the grassroots people.
“I have refused to yield to intimidation and divert the commonwealth of the people to few individuals who want to make money from the coffers because they represent the people. We will continue to better the lives of our people.
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