The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, on Friday moved a motion against the affront on the democratic structure in Benue State Local Government System.
According to Moro’s media adviser, Emmanuel Eche-Ofon John, the motion titled, URGENT NEED TO HALT THE EROSION OF DEMOCRACY: THE DISSOLUTION OF ELECTED COUNCILS IN BENUE STATE, decried the illegal dissolution of the duly elected local government system by the APC-led government and sought for an urgent intervention by the senate with a view to reversing the unconstitutional sack of the elected executive and legislative arms of the local government areas, and the unlawful installation of caretaker committees.
The motion reads:
“The senate:
“Notes with dismay the dissolution of democratically elected Local Government Councils in Benue State;
“Also notes that in placing Caretaker Committees to replace elected local government councils is an aberration and alien to the 1999 constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
“Aware that Section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees a system of local government by democratically elected councils;
“Also aware that it is the constitutional responsibility of every state to ensure the existence of local government councils by law;
“Further aware that there are subsisting court rulings directing the Governor, the House of Assembly, their agents, privies, etc, not to tamper with the tenure of the elected councils;
“Equally aware that the Governor/Government of Benue State have not appealed these judgments and that it is against the grain of the rule of law;
“Accordingly resolves to:
“i. Condemn the arbitrary dissolution of democratically elected local government councils in Benue state.
“ii. Urge the governor of Benue State to adhere to his oath of office to obey the rule of law and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
“iii. Review his dissolution of the elected councils and constitution of caretaker committees and reinstate the elected councils.
“iv. Urge the federal government to withhold statutory allocations to the local government councils not democratically elected.
“I so submit.”
In their separate contributions, Senators Victor Umeh and Adams Oshiomhole strongly supported the Motion. They condemned the arbitrary dissolution of elected local government councils across the country by governors and urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend release of funds to unelected local government officials in Benue State and other states of the federation where caretaker committees are in place.
In unanimous voice votes, the Senate approved all the four prayers sought by Senator Moro.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, thanked Senator Moro for introducing the reform at the local government level. He said the motion would entrench democracy and speed up development at the grassroots.
