The Edo
State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday suspended the Chairman of
Etsako West Local Government Area, Alhassan Mohammed, for two months,
few minutes after he was sworn in as Chairman of the area.
Oshiomhole
explained that the suspension followed controversies surrounding the
death of the former Chairman of the area, Alhaji Hassan Kadiri, who died
last Friday, the same day a protest was organised against him (Kadiri)
over his ill health.
He also
directed the new Vice Chairman of the local government, Busari Yusuf, to
act as the interim Chairman, pending the outcome of a panel of enquiry
set up to investigate the allegations of complicity against Mohammed.
While
condemning the protests, Oshiomhole said, “I am informed that the
purpose of this protest was that Hassan, on his sick bed, should be
relieved of his duties as Chairman, so that the Vice Chairman could take
over his job. I do not think human beings should play God.
“So for me,
it is absolutely unacceptable that anyone will be so desperate as to
instigate another to protest against a man that is bedridden and
admitted in the hospital fighting for his life. Our jobs are worthless
without life and all of us have our dates to depart this planet earth.
“So,
for anyone to organise protests against someone who is bedridden that
he should be forced out of office so that another person will get
promotion is unethical and absolutely unacceptable, and to publicly
organise protest against the sick, making unprintable statements,
disturbing the public peace and mobilising people to do things that are
capable of leading to riots with the possibility of even death, that,
for me, is the height of irresponsibility and I do not think any
civilised government will condone that.”
“I do not
have all the facts as to whom and who are responsible for these protests
but I know there was a protest that could have easily destabilised the
entire local government with serious implications for community
relations.
“The name of
the former vice chairman, who is now the chairman, has been mentioned
by several persons as being responsible for financing and instigating
students who are supposed to be on vacation to come back to carry out
those protests in order to force the resignation or the removal of the
chairman that was bedridden.
The
governor further ordered an investigation into the allegations and urged
other members of the local government council to avoid acts capable of
inciting people into violence that could lead to the loss of lives of
property.
He added,
“As a matter of conscience therefore, I have decided that these
allegations have to be investigated and under the Local Government
Amendment Acts; while these investigations are going on, the chairman
has to be suspended. I have served him his suspension letter; he stands
suspended with immediate effect and I will be announcing a commission of
enquiry that will investigate all the issues that led to that protest.
“Until then,
depending on the findings of the Committee, the Vice Chairman that has
just been sworn in will act as the Chairman of Etsako West Local
Government Area in accordance with the Local Government Amended Act. I
have acted in good faith and I believe that our people in Etsako West
should not doubt my sincerity of purpose.
“I have a
duty to maintain peace in every part of the state and this action is
meant to show that this government will not reward those who wish ill
for others. We should be our brother’s keepers.”
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