Governor Adams Oshiomhole
By Adibe Emenyonu
As the February 2013 local government election in Edo State gathers momentum, the state House of Assembly Monday dissolved the transitional committees in the 18 local government areas.
The transitional committee executives were constituted by the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in October 2010, following the end of the tenure of the former governor of the state, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor.
Besides, a state High Court sitting at Ekpoma presided over by Justice Wilson Komolafe, in a suit instituted by one Tony Okonigene, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful, had prior to the last July 14 governorship election, declared the transitional committee executives unconstitutional, null and void.
The dissolution, according to THISDAY checks, was sequel to a matter of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) representing Egor constituency.
In the motion, Ohonbamu added that the caretaker committee, no matter how well planned and executed, could not be tantamount to true democratic virtue.
His motion was seconded by Emma Okoduwa, a PDP member representing Esan North East constituency 11, who stated that Edo state is counted among the states in the federation that were operating transition committee in the councils, noted that it was a slap on the faces of the people of the state that was noted for good thing.
He added that the entrenchment of true democracy in the councils will sustain the political image of the state.
The motion, which was unanimously endorsed by the Assembly noted that the caretaker committee was an aberration which could be tantamount to democratic norms and values, which were preached by the state government.
Consequent upon the resolution, Uyi Igbe, speaker of the Assembly ordered the transitional committee executives in the 18 councils to return all properties within their possession to the Head of Services at the various councils before the end of the day.
He added that the transition committee members had in the past two years been in the office, noting that the dissolution was timely and long overdue.
The lawmakers also declared all the office of councillors, special assistants and all bodies set up by the executives dissolved.