Edo LG polls: Ikpea advises would-be chairmen to explore LG autonomy for development

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Ahead of the July 11 local government elections in Edo State, the senator representing Edo Central, Joseph Ikpea, has called on candidates that would be elected as chairmen to explore the full autonomy of local governments to bring development to the grassroots.

He also advised them to be prudent in the management of the financial resources of the local government areas to avoid incurring the wrath of the anti-corruption agencies.

He gave the advice at the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo Central campaign flag-off for the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

Ikpea, while addressing the APC council chairmanship candidates, said: “Once you are elected and resume office, you should be prudent. That is really the major thing, be prudent. Once you are prudent and ensure that what comes is not meant for your pocket but for you to develop your local government, then you will be fine because by time you feel it is your money and you do the wrong thing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is there to invite you. You have autonomy now but you do not have immunity like the governor.

“Know that as a council chairman, you can be invited by the EFCC anytime even while in the office. So, my advice for you is that you should be very prudent.”

The senator noted that Governor Monday Okebholo was doing so much for the people of the state and charged the would-be local government chairmen to replicate what the state government is doing in the various local government areas.

Speaking on his activities in the senate, he promised to implement all the inputs of Okpebholo in the Senate before he (Ikpea) was elected to represent Edo Central in addition to the ones he was already initiating.

He also promised that as the Senate Committee Chairman on Drugs and Narcotics, he would continue to embark on campaigns against drugs and substance abuse and create empowerment programmes and jobs for the youths in the senatorial district to complement the state government’s efforts.

He further stated that Governor Okpebholo had done enough to ensure victory for the APC in the local government election and urged the members of the party to use those developmental strides to campaign to the people to vote for the APC councillors and chairmanship candidates in the five local government areas that make up Edo Central and other parts of the state.