The Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council Area of Edo State, Sunny Ekpetika Ekpeson, has dismissed as false the video making the rounds in which he was alleged to have sworn in the councillors for the local government in Benin City, the state capital, rather than at Agenebode, the headquarters of the council.
Ekpeson, who doubles as the Edo State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), described the allegation that he performed the swearing-in of the councillors at a hotel in Benin City, hours after Governor Monday Okpebholo swore in the 18 local government chairmen, as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
Ekpeson, while reacting to the video circulated by an online platform, said the footage had been taken out of context and distorted to create a false narrative about the inauguration of the newly elected councillors and other council officials.
According to him, he was in Benin City in the discharge of his responsibilities as Edo State ALGON Chairman when he invited the newly inaugurated councillors to meet with him for an address.
“I simply called my councillors to address them,” he explained.
The chairman noted that unlike some of his colleagues who had returned to their respective local government secretariats to commence official duties, his responsibilities as ALGON chairman required him to remain in Benin City for engagements at the state and national levels.
Ekpeson explained that the existence of a vice chairman within the local government administration provides for the delegation of responsibilities when the chairman is unavailable.
“I am in Benin to perform my duty as ALGON Chairman, and I believe that is why we have vice chairmen at the local government. Where you cannot perform, you delegate power,” he said.
He disclosed that he consequently delegated the vice chairman of the local government area, Charles Aloaye Dagana, to swear in the Secretary to the Local Government (SLG) and the 10 elected ward councillors.
Ekpeson said the swearing-in was duly conducted, adding that photographic and video evidence of the exercise was available for verification.
He therefore challenged those behind the viral report to verify their facts before publishing, accusing some online content creators of deliberately circulating unverified information in pursuit of traffic and engagement.
“Whatever fake peddlers are pushing out is just a way for their survival because if they don’t push those things, they won’t have traffic. My focus is how to give Etsako East people who entrusted me with their mandate to feel the dividend of democracy,” Ekpeson declared.
The Etsako East chairman also appealed to online publishers and content creators to exercise responsibility in the use of their platforms, particularly when reporting matters concerning public officials and government activities.
He warned against deliberately misleading the public merely to generate clicks, engagement and online traffic.
“If online peddlers think posting my name would put food on their table without verification, they should carry on. At least, my name has helped a life. Glory be to God,” he added.