Fresh facts have emerged on why there are no commissioners from the three Etsako local councils – Etsako Central, Etsako East and Etsako West – and Egor local council of Edo State.
Recall that Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki had June the 8th, 2023, forwarded the names of the first batch of commissioner-nominees to the Edo State House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.
The House consequently approved all the nominees and the Governor inaugurated commissioners and members of the state’s Executive Council today, June, the 13th, 2023.
Meanwhile, impeccable sources with knowledge of the political happenings in the state have revealed that the commissioner slots for the three local councils were not filled because the Deputy Governor of the State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, did not attend meetings called to reach a consensus on the list of commissioners from the affected area.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Meetings were called and the Deputy Governor, Shaibu, did not attend. It is not known what the reasons are but his absence was what resulted in the area not having commissioners.
“We expect that the meetings will be held and commissioners would eventually be appointed into the cabinet from the three Etsako LGAs.”
It was also learnt that a commissioner has not been appointed in Egor Local Government Area because the leaders from the local council have been unable to reach a consensus on a candidate.
According to the source: “For Egor, the leaders are yet to harmonise and agree on a nominee. We expect that a commissioner will be appointed as soon as things are ironed out among the leaders.”
But in a swift reaction, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ebomhiana Musa denied the allegation, saying there was no time such meeting was convened and his principal refused to attend.
He said: “There is no meeting they called that he was not there, and you don’t need to call meeting before you know who to represent you in the three local government as leader of Edo north in PDP.
“He know those who are qualified and fit to be commissioner, so he doesn’t need to attend meeting to decide that.
“Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako West will surely get their commissioner, they are doing it in batches and their own will come