A group under the aegis of GIDIGBA has accused the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, of allegedly diverting the November and December local government council allocations of N15.6 billion.
The coordinator of the group, Sunday Idugboe, in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday, alleged that the funds paid into the Edo State Government and Local Government’s joint account have been expended by the state government, while local government operations have been stuck.
Idugboe further alleged that the two months’ allocations to the local government were the primary motive behind the crisis and subsequent removal of the elected 18 chairmen and deputies in the councils.
He opined that the removal of the council chairmen and deputies was aimed at controlling the councils’ resources.
According to him, every month, the council’s allocation is paid to the state government account, where it should have been immediately transmitted into each Local Government Council’s account. As of today, there is no evidence of the transfer into the LGC accounts, hence the accusations of diversion.
“The GIDIGBA group has it on good authority that the receipts for the councils’ November and December allocations were not transmitted, a move that is seen as a blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy, delivered on July 11, 2024.
“The people are aware that the state government has resorted to the use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass chairmen after the attempt to impeach them via various kangaroo means also failed.
“The concerns of the people have been that it is not possible for the 18 LGC chairmen to be guilty of the same offence alongside their vice-chairmen.
“The diversion of funds meant for local governments in Edo State has raised serious concerns about Governor Okpebholo’s administration, with many questioning its accountability and transparency.
“This issue is further complicated by the fact that none of the local government councils in Edo State, as of today, have approved budgets, hindering the implementation of projects and the delivery of democracy’s dividends to the grassroots,” he stated.
Reacting, Paul Ohonbamu, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Edo State, denied the allegations, saying that “there is nothing like that.”
Ohonbamu posited that if the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, can frown at the way and manner they dissipate local government resources meant for grassroots development, he can never be party to diverting the councils’ funds.
“The Governor wants fiscal independence for local government operations. Governor Okpebholo is a strong advocate for transparency and accountability.
“The governor’s commitment to these values is evident in his disapproval of the reckless management of local government resources.
“This stance is particularly significant in light of President Tinubu’s government prioritising the financial and administrative independence of local government areas, as reaffirmed by the Supreme Court judgment in July 2024,” he said.