By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN — A simmering crisis is brewing at Sabo-Gida Ora, the administrative headquarters of Owan-West Local Government Aarea of Edo State, as former political office holders, who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  are set to clash with the Action Congress, AC,  council members over non-payment of severance allowances to former political office holders in the council.

Vanguard learnt that while former political officer holders of the AC were paid part of their money,  those of the PDP were left out.

The former PDP political office holders have fingered the Secretary to the State Government,  Pally Iriase, as responsible for their ordeal and have threatened to seal off the council’s secretariat, if nothing was done to correct the situation.

The secretary of former political office holders of the council, Mr. Daniel Imokhai, who briefed newsmen on the issue, alleged that it was done to coerce them into defecting to the AC.

He  explaining that the state Governor had paid all past political office holders their entitlements irrespective of their political party and lamented that political affiliation was been used as a basis for payment at the council.

Imokhai who particularly blamed Mr. Iriase for their plight, called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to call the Secretary to the State Government to order.

“When we learnt that we were not included on the payment list, we met with the local government area chairman, Mr. Daniel Asekhame and he categorically told us that his hands were tied and that we should talk to Iriase on the issue. We later understand that the sharing formular was carried out by the Secretary to the state government.

“He has vowed to frustrate us into working with him to achieve his ambition of going to the House of Representatives in 2011. Owan West has been peaceful politically and Iriase has come to disturb this peace,” they added.