By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE drama surrounding the status of local government chairmen in Edo State continued on Tuesday as suspected thugs have reportedly taken the mace belonging to the Etsako East Legislative Arm to an unknown destination.

It was gathered that the suspected thugs stormed the legislative chambers where the mace is usually kept and took it away.

“It was a civil servant that called to tell us what happened” an aide to the embattled chairman, Princess Benedicta Attoh told Vanguard on the phone.

A statement by her Chief Press Secretary, Benjamin Atu however said all the ten Councillors in the local government have distanced themselves from the missing mace which is being suspected that it would be used to impeach the chairman.

He said councillors have vowed to get another mace to continue their sitting.

He quoted the Councillors as saying in a statement issued through the Majority Leader of the House Hon. Ibrahim Abdulsalim Afoso who described the perpetrators as assassins of democracy who seek to murder Democracy in Etsako East.

“We reaffirmed our unwavering support for the council Chairman Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh. We are standing with her and by her. Any impeachment from any quarter can’t stand because it’s not coming from the elected Councillors. Hon. Benedicta Attoh is the Executive Chairman Etsako East local Government Council and it will remain so.

“We have just received reports that the legislative mace of the Etsako East Local Government Council has been stolen by unknown persons.

“We condemn this act and disassociate ourselves from this blatant display of desperation and lawlessness.

“In light of recent events, we, the councilors of Etsako East Local Government Area, wish to reaffirm our unwavering support and loyalty to our Chairman, Hon. Princess Benedicta Attoh. We stand firmly behind her leadership and vision for our local government council.

“We urge the perpetrators of the theft to return the mace immediately and call on the security agencies to investigate this incident and bring the culprits to justice.”