.As Obaseki canvasses votes for PDP candidates ahead of council polls 

A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Edo Diaspora Action Committee (EDAC), yesterday, described as suspicious, awkward and a slight on Benin race, the state government’s decision to create traditional councils in the 18 councils of the state, particularly, Edo South.

The group also raised concerns over alleged withholding of seven months Federal allocation, which is legally due to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The group claimed that withholding the allocations, which is over N600 million, “is just one of several antics usually deployed by the governor in his dealings with the palace, politicians and masses.”

This was contained in a statement issued by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Edwin Obabaifo, and made available to journalists in Benin City, yesterday.

Obabaifo said the move is an affront on the race, which is considered most homogeneous in Edo South Senatorial District.

“We consider this move by the Obaseki-led administration as distasteful and utterly disrespectful. We strongly advise it to be withdrawn.  As good as the policy may appear, we wonder how the governor will be giving monthly allowances to every traditional ruler in the state, when he is currently withholding over N600 million, which is over seven months allocation legally due to BTC.”

The State government said it arrived at the policy after its Executive Council approved the implementation of the 1979 Law on Local Council Administration.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, was yet to respond to the allegation of withheld allocation at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki has urged voters in Esan South-East Council to come out en masse to vote for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure sustained growth and development in the local councils.

Obaseki gave the charge while speaking to party faithful at Ubiaja, Esan South East, to canvass votes for the party’s candidates ahead of the September 2, 2023 council elections.

While expressing confidence that the party will emerge victorious at the polls, said his government would sustain efforts to ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of Edo.

He said: “Vote PDP for development and growth. I have a chairman I can work with; it is development and growth all the way. I will build more roads, ensure the security of the people and bring development to all sectors in the Esan South East Council.”