By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Crisis is brewing in Owan West Local Government Council of Edo State between the councillors and Chairman,Hon.Dickson Ahonsi over the removal of a female legislative head,Joy Ohonyon ,carried out by nine members of the House .
Trouble started when nine out of 10 councillors impeached Ohonyon,an ally of the embittered Council chairman and immediately replaced her with Hon.Saturday Ohimai Ezomon.Ever since, the councillors have been unable to hold plenary owing to alleged threats to life and the sudden disappearance of the mace,which is the symbol of authority.
According to a statement jointly endorsed by the nine councillors,who moved for the removal of Ohonyon “the life of the newly elected Leader, Ezomon and other eight members of Owan West legislative arm are in danger over the removal of the former leader of the House.The chairman,Hon Ahonsi is trying to force us to reinstate Ohonyon at all cost.The chairman has boasted that the legislative arm of Government will not hold plenary until the deposed leader is reinstated.”
Responding during a telephone interview,the Chairman of the troubled council,Hon. Dickson Ahonsi yesterday described the action that led to the impeachment of the leader of the legislative arm as selfish, oppressive and illegal even as he noted that dialogue to resolve the issue is ongoing.
He alleged that the crux of the crisis is the refusal of Ohonyon to accede to their(Councillors )frequent demand of welfare even when they cannot boast to have moved a single motion since they came on board as councillors.
He also described allegations of threat to life by some of the councilors as a tissue of lies adding that some of them are bugged down by heavy debts thereby looking for opportunities to have their fingers in the council’s coffers through the backdoor.
Ahonsi’s reaction came following a series of allegations against him among which are shielding the impeached leader of the house, threat to life,intimidation and instigating crisis in the council.
Speaking for the first time on the crisis rocking the Council , the council Chairman noted that “ As a matter fact, I believe very sincerely that all these allegations of improper dressing are frivolous and baseless. Their aim is just personal and some of them are beginning to realise now that what they did was wrong just because she is female.
“They had said from day one that they won’t allow a female to preside over their affairs and they insisted she shares her impress with them and if she doesn’t allow that they will impeach her and that is why they are cooking up lies against her.
“None of them dress properly compared to her in the council. I don’t have any personal relationship with her and everybody is aware of that. I’m a very disciplined man, I would not allow anybody to be intimidated in the Council.
“Since they came on board, they have not moved any single motion in the house, they are concerned about welfare that I should bring money to share. Part of the reason is that the legislative head is blocking their way and i’m not ready to go to jail for any body
“ This position was zoned to Uzebba and she is the only graduate there, the other ones are secondary school certificate holders and that is why the girl was asked to lead. Imagine yesterday, they were cooking and eating at the legislative arm. So, these issues of allowing people from outside to determine who heads the legislative arms is very bad. Some of them wouldn’t have even emerged at primaries if not for outside interference.
He further added that despite the crisis he is doing everything to ensure that the party is United towards winning the September Governorship election in the council.
Meanwhile,the newly elected Leader of the House,Ezomon has disclaimed the allegation by the chairman that they are secondary school certificate holders.His words “It’s a lie.Personally,i have an HND certificate and most of my colleagues are graduates of various institutions.The Council chairman couldn’t have said we are secondary school certificate holders because he’s fully aware of our various qualifications.”