By Lucky Isibor
The Chairman of Esan West Local Government Council in Edo State, Hon. Patrick Aguinede has accused some politicians in the area of sabotaging the internal revenue generation drive of the council.
Honourable Aguinede made the accusation in a chat with “The Track”, Monday on the alleged attack on council officials by Mrs Maris Igbons, who is also a Special Assistant to Governor Obaseki on political matters.
According to the Council boss, some of the politicians are not happy with the structures his administration has put in place to block leakages in internal revenue generation in the Council.
Hon. Aguinede said he was in a meeting in Benin when he learnt about what happened. He said he asked the officials to report the matter to the police only for Mrs. Igbons to go to the hospital that she was beaten.
Aguinede who noted that as Special Assistant to Governor Obaseki, Mrs. Igbons ought to show example by prompt payment of levies and obedient to local authorities said the battle against him by some members of the APC was because he discovered fraud masterminded by them.
According to him, “As an aide to the Governor, she was supposed to be in the office as at the time she was found in her shop. She refused to pay her levies on grounds that she is an aide to Obaseki.
While accusing a certain APC chieftain in Esan West of manipulating some other party members in the area, the Council boss said, “Mr. Anthony was doing his normal routine work when the woman was said to have slapped him and tore his uniform.”
Head of Environment department, Mr. Anthony Ojeabulu, who led the team to Igbons shop alleged that she slapped him and tore his official uniform.
He alleged that Igbons ran to the hospital when she heard that policemen were looking for her for assault.
Mrs. Igbons who is said to be receiving treatment could not talk when journalists visited her at the hospital.
A former Vice Chairman of Esan West, Mrs. Esther Eghaghe, said Igbons was beaten by the council officials who were out to collect revenue.
Esther said Igbons had also complied with a directive from the council officials that she should shift her shop away from the road.
She alleged that Igbons was beaten because she is not loyal to the Chairman of the local council, Patrick Aguinede.
According to Esther, “Aguinede has been going about intimidating and harassing people in the name of collecting revenue. We expected him to bring all factions of the party together but he is fighting us because we remain loyal to Pius Omofuma.
“That is why he is beating most of us. Igbons has already removed her shop but they still beat her up.”
