Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that the 18 suspended Local Government Chairmen allegedly remitted over N12 billion to leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within 15 months under questionable circumstances....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
The governor made this disclosure on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, while addressing acting Chairmen and Councilors from the 18 Local Government Areas during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.
Governor Okpebholo explained that upon assuming office, he reviewed financial records presented by the Accountant-General and discovered questionable expenditures.…READ FULL ARTICLE
“I picked interest in some of the spending because I saw an item tagged ‘Environmental Security Funding.’ The amount involved was huge—₦800 million every month—and the Chairmen were contributing this money to party leaders,” the governor revealed.
He noted that multiple attempts to get the suspended Chairmen to account for the spending were unsuccessful, leading to their suspension.
*”My Deputy met with them and requested their financial records. They promised to provide them in 48 hours but failed to do so even after two weeks. As a result, I forwarded the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the *Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA),” he added.
The governor criticized the alleged financial misconduct, highlighting how it impacted essential services at the grassroots.
“Our schools lack teachers, with only two or three staff members where 10 to 12 should be present. Funds meant for development cannot be used for personal enrichment,” he lamented.
Governor Okpebholo commended the acting Chairmen and Councilors for their dedication to transparency and accountability. He pledged his administration’s support to ensure effective service delivery at the grassroots level.
“The only way to drive development to the grassroots is through you. You have full authority as Local Government Chairmen, and the Local Government Commission will support you to succeed,” he assured.
In response, Hon. Damian Lawani, Chairman of the Local Government Commission, assured the governor of the acting Chairmen’s readiness to align with his administration’s vision and deliver dividends of democracy to the people.…READ FULL ARTICLE
Acting Chairmen from Uhunmwonde (Hon. Iradia Benjamin Osas), Esan West (Hon. Godsent Agboibo), and Owan West (Hon. Joy Ohonyon) reaffirmed their loyalty and commitment to supporting Governor Okpebholo’s administration.
The revelations have sparked discussions across Edo State, with citizens and stakeholders awaiting further updates on investigations by the EFCC and the State Assembly into the alleged financial misconduct. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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