BENIN CITY – The national secretary of Labour Party, Comrade, Julius Abure has slammed the Edo State Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole over the rift with the members of Edo State House of Assembly on battle ofNsupremacy as regards the power to dissolve local government councils describing it as shameful and ”laughable.”
“The disagreement between governor Adams Oshiomhole and the House of Assembly over tenure expiration of local government chairmen and concillors is not only laughable but shows the hallowness of Edo state government towards issues of development, rule of law, due process and the principles of democracy.”
He berated Governor Adams Oshiomhole for not creating an enabling environment for free, fair and credible local government elections in Edo state before the expiration of the tenure of the dissolved local government council chairmen; stressing that it is unconstitutional.
“Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended provides the system of local Government by democratically Elected Local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every state shall subject to section 8 of this
Constitution, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, Structure, composition, finance and functions”, Barrister Julius said.
Comrade Julius regretted that Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole who is a product of due process, rule of Law and democratic ethos will overtly or covertly subvert the wishes and aspirations of the people.
He however enjoined both the Governor and the legislature to quickly address the concerns and sufferings of the people who are wallowing in poverty, unemployment, fuel scarcity, etc rather than engaging in undue fisticuffs over who is constitutionally empowered to dissolve local councils without giving premium to constitutional democracy of electing people into the dissolved councils.
