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By Sunday Ani
The Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR) has warned that the suspension of the 18 local government chairmen in Edo State, by Gov Monday Okpebhol and the state House of Assembly, is about to snowball into a serious crisis if President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and the Department of State Service (DSS) do not intervene urgently.
The warning is coming against the backdrop of the council chairmen’s resolve to resume duty today to defy the Governor/lawmakers’ recent suspension.
Their determination to resume duties on today (Monday), according to NAFOR, followed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and a Benin High Court’s declaration that the governor and state lawmakers’ suspension order was null and void.
NAFPOR has warned against the consequences of the continued silence of President Tinubu and the IGP in defending the imminent threat to democracy ahead of the resumption of the local council chairmen today, saying its investigation has revealed deep threat to human life and destruction of property by those already clamouring to take over the councils from the elected chairmen that were recently suspended.
“Research has revealed that the 18 local Government Council Secretariats in Edo State may be set ablaze on Monday morning, if President Bola Tinubu, the DSS and IGP do not immediately issue a public statement to caution against the ongoing positioning of thugs across the various Secretariats to prevent the democratically elected council chairmen from continuing their services to the masses,” NAFOR said.
The research institution said the death threat across various social media platforms to kill the chairmen and their aide if they resumed
t expressed dissatisfaction over the silence of the Police in the ongoing crisis, saying the late intervention of the Police in Rivers State led to the death and burning down of local council secretariats which could have been prevented.
It noted that the AGF had earlier described the action of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Governor in terminating council chairmen’s tenure as illegal in line with the Supreme Court’s judgement that granted autonomy to local government areas. “The Chairmen are set to resume office today, Monday, but as of now, thugs have invaded the various local government secretariats to cause mayhem. The earlier the IGP cautioned these thugs against violent breakdown of law and order in Edo State, the better. We must build a proactive police system that is preventive and not reactive. Now that the crisis is brewing is the right time to stop it, not after the damage has been done,” it said.
A statement issued today in Lagos by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Ufuoma Okiokpa read: “To sustain the relative peace across the nation, the Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research NAFPOR has called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police and the DSS to make adequate security arrangements across every local government council secretariat across Edo State as Council Chairmen are set to resume office on Monday, following the order by a Benin High Court so as to avoid deaths and the burning down of government properties as thugs are already positioned across the councils to prevent the Chairmen from resumption.
“The leadership of Nigeria security agencies is duty-bound to provide security for the democratically elected Council Chairmen to safeguard democracy. Political actors with subversive agenda should not be allowed to set the state ablaze on Monday as was witnessed in Rivers State recently where council secretariats were set on fire.”
NAFPOR maintained that the current posture of the Governor of Edo State is inimical to the nation’s democratic and security interests, and should not be allowed to undermine the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement, which granted autonomy to local Governments across the country. “The Nigeria police must show to Nigerians at this point that it is ready to defend the rule of law by enforcing the Supreme Court’s verdict and stable security situation across Edo State. This call is urgent.
“The tension across the state is already creating insecurity in various quarters; the Police must take a public position by assuring the citizens and the council workers of adequate security. Research reveals that some workers have travelled away from their local government headquarters as the threats seem very intense. Oredo, Etsako East, Egor, Esan Central, Owan East and West, Akoko-Edo and Etsako West have already been allegedly submerged by thugs who are ready for mayhem. Workers are already afraid to work according to those in the various local governments,” NAFOR added.
It stated that Nigeria’s democracy can’t remain firmly on cause when elected council chairmen are violently and forcefully thrown out of office against the constitution in a democratic dispensation.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited the Chairmen and investigated them on Thursday and vindicated them of every allegation raised in a petition by the Governor to the EFCC.
“If this impunity is allowed to continue, that means by next week, other Governors will also throw out the Council Chairmen out of office and the Supreme Court will be rendered a toothless dog that only barks and can’t bite. The Nigeria judiciary must also defend its judgement.
