By Inneh Elliot

The unexamined life is not worth living- Socrates.

I have studied carefully the political imbroglio befalling the Local Government Council of Edo State, at such precarious time of our Nations’ history, where there is blatant disregard for the rule of law and order, which is quite disturbing and undemocratic.

At the recent judgement on Local Government Autonomy by the Supreme Court, one would have expected that it would in turn boost our democracy, as well as working out more modalities on inter-governmental relationships between the different tiers of governments; Local, State and Federal.

Kaduna State as a case study under the administration of Governor Nasir El-rufai, the local government administration was dominated by different political parties, which was 16 APC Chairmen while five were PDP chairmen, and councillors. They worked assiduously for the betterment of the state, and also enjoyed harmonious relationship between the state and local government. Similarly, under this current administration of Simi Fubara of Rivers State, where the local government is entirely dominated by a party different from that of the state Governor, they are also enjoying same relationship.

The above enumerated, can strike a balance between politics and governance. The September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election of Edo State, was marred with numerous controversies, which resulted to litigations, and counter litigations, while both parties are still in court, one would have expected the overnor of Edo State, H.E Sen. Monday Okpebholo, to work harmoniously and devises means to woo the local government, and councillors by his policies and objectives for the good people of Edo State, and not the use of force, intimidation, which will bring about the breach of peace, and usurping their rights as enshrined in the constitution. I would have expected the Governor to do the needful by emulating His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, by first re-amending the State Laws, to a tenure of four years, which President Tinubu operated while he was Governor of Lagos state, and Lagos State had followed suit till date.

To me, one of the achievements of President Tinubu is recognizing the importance of Local Government Administration, as the bedrock of growth, hallmark for development, and the need to strengthening it. Edo State Governor should follow in the same direction of the President.

Merry Christmas and prosperous 2025 in advance to the good people of Ward 09, Egor, Edo State, and Nigerians at Large.

Hon. (Amb) Inneh Elliot, Councillor, Ward 09, Egor, wrote in from Benin