BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN
THE Edo State House of Assembly has approved the names of seven out of the eight list of commissioner nominees submitted to it by Governor Adams Oshiomhole last Tuesday.

The House could not confirm the nomination of Mr Gabriel Oibo, the nominee from Esan Central, after they protested that he comes from the same community with the Transition Chairman of the Council,Mr Momodu.

Some youths from Akoko Edo Local Government Council, also protested the nomination of Mr Annenah Jemitola, as commissioner nominee of the Council, after they accused her of alleged anti party activities during the just concluded National Assembly elections.

But in a counter protest, youths from the area under the aegis of Akoko Edo Progressive Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Youth Vanguard, in a statement signed by Comrade Paul Salami and Francis Aiworo, disassociated the youths of the area from the earlier protest and commended the Governor for the nomination which they described as good for the people of the area.

This comes as a Chieftain of the party in the state, Mr John Mayaka hailed what he described as the level of transparency being exhibited in the governance of the state by Governor Oshiomhole, saying that the recent publication of the accounts of the state in National Dailies was an indication that the days of looting state government funds are over in the state.

However, a section of the youths from Akoko Edo, had last Tuesday alleged that the nominee worked against the ACN during the election that threw up Deacon Domingo Obende as Senator and Peter Akpatason as House of Representative member, therefore it would be “immoral” to appoint her a commissioner after what transpired during the election.

But the Akoko Edo Youth Vanguard, described the allegation as untrue and misleading, after they recalled the efforts made by Jemitola to ensure the success of the ACN in the just concluded general election.

However, Mayaki who commended Governor Oshiomhole for his exemplary leadership, said there “ is no doubt that he has created more openness in government business, strong rule of law and a greater opportunities for people to experience personal freedom and challenge Government authority.

“There is a lot to draw from the recent publications placed by the State Government on it’s 2010 statement of account such as the administration’s level of transparency, fiscal discipline, accountability and disclosure of public finances and expenditure.

What I think we needed most in this country is rule of law, good governance, institution building, free press and a process of democratization which the administration of Comrade Oshiomhole led administration exemplifies.”