The Suffering Ground: Edo State's Local Government Crisis

The Local Government crisis in Edo State has deepened, taking various forms across different Local Government Areas (LGAs). As the saying goes, "when two elephants fight, it's the ground that suffers." In this case, the Edo citizens who rely on Local Government services are bearing the brunt.

The three tiers of government – Federal, State, and Local Government – each have distinct roles to play in serving citizens. The Local Government, being the closest to the people, is critical in addressing their needs. However, since the crisis began, many Local Government services have ground to a halt, leaving citizens uncertain about where to turn.

The suspension of Local Government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, the ascension of Legislative leaders to Acting Chairmen, and recent impeachment notices have sparked reactions and counter-reactions. The true state of leadership at the LGAs has become a source of concern, with those in acting capacities limited in their functions and authority.

Citizens, especially those with pressing needs, are suffering due to the crisis. Weeks have passed, and they are still unsure about where to seek help. Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo must intervene, considering the crucial role Local Governments play in addressing challenges faced by cities.

Some projects, activities, and issues addressed by the embattled Chairmen are currently on hold. If this continues, it will have far-reaching consequences for Edo State. The Governor has successfully intervened in other issues, bringing calm to the state; the LGA crisis should not be an exception.

Despite misinformation, it's essential to set the record straight: the Governor did not suspend the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen. He wrote to the House of Assembly, which has the constitutional power to take action. They obliged, but they also have the right to reject, defer, or set up a committee to investigate.

The allegations against the Local Government Chairmen can be discussed another day. For now, it's crucial to prevail upon the Governor to intervene and end the crisis once and for all. Citizens should not continue to suffer; decisive action must be taken to address pending activities, projects, and issues.

Dr. Bright Oniovokukor

Comments

Silence is Not Golden: The Need for Accountability and Justice in Nigeria's Justice System for Sex-Related Crimes

Silence is Not Golden: The Need for Accountability and Justice in Nigeria's Justice System for Sex-Related Crimes By Dr. Bright Oniovokukor In Nigeria's justice system, one area of criminality that has not received fair and objective attention is sex-related offenses. The challenge of providing evidence remains significant, and proving the facts is another obstacle. Despite having various laws in place to address these issues for many years, biases stemming from loud opinions, prejudice, nepotism, religion, and culture continue to hinder progress. This has perpetuated a culture of silence. When a woman who has been sexually harassed decides to speak up, some people, including some who claim to be gender advocates, argue that the timing and circumstances are not ideal. They have used this argument to criticize Senator Natasha, claiming she spoke out at the wrong time and place. This raises questions: When is enough enough? Do offenders consider the time and locati...

SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU: THE "SWEET MOTHER" NORM IS A TRADITION OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION .......A WAKE-UP CALL AS STUDENTS' REACTION HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR CHANGE

Senator Oluremi Tinubu's recent visit to a school in Delta State took an unexpected turn, sparking concerns about her role as the First Lady of Nigeria. The drama unfolded when the MC welcomed her with a song, "Na Our Mama be dis" ("This is our mother"), but the students, mostly adult nurses-in-training, responded with "Na Your Mama be dis" ("This is your mother"), implying she was the MC's mother, not theirs. When the MC mounted the stage, it's usually a norm for some women who are top personalities to be welcomed with a song, "Sweet Mother". This is a sign of respect and admiration for these women. However, some people have expressed the opinion that they can only call someone "Mother" if she is their biological mother or has played a motherly role in their lives. This sentiment was echoed in the unexpected response of the students during Senator Oluremi Tinubu's visit. This unexpected reaction raises questi...

FALSE DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOID MUST STOP IN NIGERIA!

In Nigeria, if you called in sick and couldn’t make it to work, it was probably because you had Malaria and Typhoid. Did I hear you say Typhoid? You have participated in Fraud! Let me shock you, the rate of Typhoid fever occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa based on existing studies is less than 1%, unlike malaria prevalence which currently stands above 60% in Nigeria. Yet, typhoid fever, a disease caused by Salmonella typhi and its paratyphi variant is being diagnosed on a daily basis and treated at an unprecedented rate in Nigeria. This situation has gotten so bad that almost every patient; male, female, young and old with febrile illness in Nigeria is treated for typhoid. At every turn, what you hear is: ‘I have just been diagnosed and treated for malaria and typhoid’ or ‘since I treated malaria and its not going I must definitely have typhoid. As a matter of fact, patients who believe they have these twin ailments will abandon doctors who refuse to treat the Typhoid component ...

Bricache Intelligence

Search This Blog