Clem Agba: Traditional rulers will not be dethroned, suspended if I become Edo governor

Clem Agba, a governorship hopeful in Edo, says traditional rulers in the state will be free to perform their duties if he is elected governor.

Agba, a former minister of budget and national planning, recently declared his intention to contest the 2024 Edo governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agba announced his gubernatorial bid at his ward in Uzanu community in Etsako East LGA of the state.

The election is scheduled for September 21, 2024.

On Saturday, the former minister met with APC leaders and members at Ikpoba Okha LGA of the state.

Speaking at the meeting, Agba said if elected governor, he would work with the state house assembly to amend some provisions of the traditional rulers and chieftaincy law of 1979.

He said if the law is amended, the state governor would not have the power to dethrone or suspend any traditional ruler in the state.

“If elected governor, I will amend the law that gives such powers to the governor to dethrone or suspend traditional ruler,” Agba said.

He said the trend of a governor dethroning or suspending traditional rulers is a dent on African culture and tradition.

He added that his agenda for the people of the state is anchored on the concept of “TRUST, which means transforming our rural and urban spaces together”.

The former minister said he was in the race to change the narrative of the poor infrastructural development in the state.

The governorship aspirant said he would employ more teachers for public schools across the state, rather than only building schools without teachers.

He added that if there were trained teachers in schools, pupils could compete with others at the international level.

“I want to produce students locally who can compete internationally like in our days. I am a product of local schools,” he added.

“If the education I had took me to the international stage, why not now? I will revisit the state of roads, schools, and hospitals in the state when given the opportunity.

“We will also revisit the urban renewal of Oshiomhole’s administration, which has been abandoned by the present government.”