LG autonomy, launchpad for development — Senator Ikpea

The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Joseph Ikpea, has called on those that would be elected as chairmen of local government areas in Edo State in the July 11 election to explore the full autonomy they now enjoy to bring development to the people.

This was just as he also advised them to be prudent in the management of the financial resources of the local government areas to avoid incurring the wrath of anti-graft agencies.

Senator Ikpea gave the advice at the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo Central Senatorial District campaign flag-off for the forthcoming local government election in the state.

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Addressing the APC local government chairmanship candidates, the senator said: “Once you are elected and resume office, you should be prudent. That is really the major thing: be prudent. Once you are prudent and ensure that what comes is not made for you for your pocket, it is for you to develop your local government, then you will be fine because over time you feel it is your money and you do the wrong thing. EFCC is there to invite them.

“You have autonomy now, but you do not have immunity like the executive governor.

“Know that as a council chairman you can be invited by EFCC anytime even while in the office. So my advice for you is that you should be very prudent.”

The senator, who noted that Governor Monday Okebholo was doing so much for the people of the state, charged the would-be local government chairmen to replicate what the state government is doing in the various local government areas.

On his activities in the senate, Senator Ikpea said he would ensure that all the inputs of the governor before he was elected to represent Edo Central would be implemented, in addition to the ones he was already initiating.

Ikpea added that as the Senate Committee Chairman on Drugs and Narcotics, he would continue to embark on campaigns against drugs and substance abuse and also create empowerment programmes and jobs for the youths in the Senatorial District to complement the state government’s efforts.

Ikpea said Governor Okpebholo had done enough to ensure victory for the APC in the local government election and urged the members of the party to use those developmental strides to campaign to the people to vote for APC councilors and chairmanship candidates in the five local government areas that make up Edo Central Senatorial District and other parts of the state.