Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has once again ruffled feathers in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spoiling local government council chairmen who recently dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, with the latest sports utility vehicles, SUV gifts.
Commissioning the SUVs on Saturday at the state Secretariat, Governor Okpebholo said the vehicles, 2025 model, were to aid the chairmen in effective service delivery.
Newsmata.com.ng recalls that the 17 beneficiaries emerged acting council chairmen when as legislative leaders they were allegedly induced by the government to impeach the elected chairmen and the vice chairmen who had on December 17, 2024, been suspended for two months by the state House of Assembly following complaints against the leadership of the 18 councils by Governor Okpebholo.
In his petition to the legislature dated November 16, 2024, the governor accused the chairmen of gross misconduct and insubordination for refusing to submit their financial records for scrutiny as directed.
However, one after the other, the suspended chairmen and their deputies were dramatically impeached, and leaders of the respective legislative arms sworn in as acting chairmen. In another political masterstroke, they all defected to the APC on March 17, 2025, leaving the PDP dazed. Only the suspended Oredo local government council chairman, Tom Obaseki, survived the plot and had remained in the PDP.
In what appeared to be a ‘thanks for your loyalty’ largesse, the chairmen are now proud owners of exotic SUVs.
Governor Okpebholo who chided his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki for having taken the state backwards, stated proudly that “but today, the narrative has changed, and chairmen are now recognised” by his administration and new SUVs have been given to them to aid effective service delivery.
Asserting that his administration does not tamper with local government funds, a decision he said, would enable the councils to bring development to the grass roots, Governor Okpebholo said, “I want to thank God for making today possible as chairmen now have the privilege to drive brand new vehicles in the state. New things are beginning to happen in Edo State under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Edo will experience more development even as we compete with Lagos, Abuja, and other states of the federation. The vehicles commissioned today are not for the private use of the local government chairmen but for the development of the people at the grass roots. I will monitor you to ensure the right thing is done.
“I know how much you are receiving in the councils, and we will measure your success rate if it is commensurate with what you are receiving. My administration has not interfered with your funds and resources”.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky Eseigbe, commended the governor for not interfering with local government funds.
He noted that the freedom given to the chairmen had resulted in positive developments across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State.
According to Eseigbe, “This is the first time in the history of the state that 2025 models of SUVs are purchased for local government chairmen. These brand-new vehicles presented to local government chairmen are to enable them to carry out their responsibilities
“The 18 local government chairmen are developing the state as blocks of classrooms, healthcare centres, roads are being built along other infrastructure development in the council areas”.