In Etsako West LGA
By DADA AYOKHAI
The wave of suspensions which began in the Senate and later extended to Rivers State, has spread its tentacles to the Etsako West council area
In a whimsical move, three Etsako West councillors elected on the platform of the PDP have been suspended indefinitely over ‘ their refusal to defect to the ruling APC
The affected councillors are Hon Momodu Nurudeen, Hon Jimah Abdul Ganiyu, and Hon Frank Asimu Odior
They will also have their salaries withheld .
The refusal of the three suspended councillors to join the other twelve in the mass defection to the APC, in compliance with the wishes of Gov Okpebolo, may have infuriated the legislative chamber to take the drastic step of suspending them.
The notice of their suspension was said to have been communicated verbally to them by the leader of the legislative arm, Hon Faruk Mohammed, who claimed to be acting on directives from “higher authorities”.
This is a marked violation of established norms in the words of Stàkeholders.
Etsako West is the home turf of the Edo APC party leader, Sen Adams Oshiomole as well as the party’s state chairman, Hon Jarret Tenebe
The council area also hosts other influential APC figures.
The stance of the three councillors must have made life uncomfortable for the APC leaders in the local government
Determined to extract their pound of flesh and also assert their influence, they may have “prompted” the legislative chamber to move against the three council lawmakers
Recently, seventeen of the eighteen acting council chairmen, along with their fellow legislators (councillors), were ceremoniously welcomed into the APC by Edo State Governor Sen Monday Okpevbolo.
A lavish “welcome home” reception was hosted at the Dennis Osadebe Government House in Benin to honour the defectors.
The opposition PDP, however, wasted no time condemning this political manoeuvre.
In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Nehikhare, the Edo State PDP accused the ruling APC of luring the elected council chairmen and their councillors with the sum of N2 million each.
Hon Frank Asimu Odior responded strongly to his suspension in a letter to the legislative chamber, labeling it “malicious” and challenging the legitimacy of the action taken against him.
In the letter, Hon. Asimu stated, “Politics is a game of choice. I have chosen my political party, the PDP, and I am at peace with my decision. I have no regrets, regardless of what happens. One thing is certain: when you betray your brother, the buyer will never trust you.”
He also explained that what transpired in the legislative chamber was disheartening and wicked.
He emphasized that some individuals, desperate to seize power at any cost, quickly forgot the sacrifices made by others that enabled them to attain their current status.
Philosophically, he remarked, “I may not have the power to stop you, but I trust that God will fight for the weak. No man can stop a running horse.”
Hon. Asimu believes he has been targeted by detractors aiming to “tarnish” his reputation for political gains and reminded them that each individual has a unique calling to serve.
He insisted that his suspension was merely a temporary setback and assured that, in due time, his enemies would regret their actions and seek God’s forgiveness.
He added that the God he serves is just and righteous and would not allow such an injustice, as that which has been inflicted upon him, to prevail.
