The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Joseph Ikpea, has urged candidates contesting the forthcoming Edo State local government election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manage public funds prudently, warning that financial recklessness could attract the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking at the APC Edo Central Senatorial District campaign flag-off ahead of the July 11 local government election, Ikpea said the financial autonomy now enjoyed by local government councils should be seen as an opportunity to deliver meaningful development to grassroots communities rather than for personal enrichment.
The senator reminded the chairmanship candidates that unlike governors, local government chairmen do not enjoy constitutional immunity from prosecution while in office.
“Once you are elected and resume office, you should be prudent. That is really the major thing. Be prudent. Whatever comes to the local government is not meant for your pocket; it is meant for the development of your local government,” Ikpea said.
He added, “You have autonomy now, but you do not have immunity like the executive governor. As a council chairman, you can be invited by the EFCC at any time, even while in office. Therefore, my advice is that you should be very prudent.”
Ikpea further charged the candidates to complement the development efforts of Governor Monday Okpebholo by initiating people-oriented projects across their respective councils if elected.
The lawmaker also assured party supporters that he would continue to facilitate development projects to Edo Central through effective representation in the Senate.
According to him, he remains committed to implementing developmental initiatives conceived before his election while also pursuing new interventions for the benefit of the district.
Ikpea noted that as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, he would sustain advocacy against drug and substance abuse, while promoting youth empowerment and job creation programmes to support the state government’s development agenda.
He expressed confidence that the achievements of the Okpebholo administration would translate into victory for APC candidates in the July 11 council election and urged party members to take the government’s developmental strides to the electorate across the five local government areas in Edo Central.
