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Tag: Edo Assembly crisis

  • Edo Assembly crisis will be resolved, says Deputy Speaker

    Former Edo State Water Resources and Energy Commissioner and Deputy Speaker of House of Assembly Yekini Idaiye spoke with Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR on effortS to reconcile the aggrieved lawmakers.

    How is the House of Assembly coping with the crisis?

    By His grace, we are doing fine with the support of Governor Obaseki. Everything has been moving well.

    What should your constituency expect from you?

    I am wearing a very big shoe. I took over from the former Speaker. I know God will see me through. In the past, nothing has been happening in Akoko-Edo especially my constituency 1. I have 11 communities without roads. There are no major road projects in my constituency.

    There is Somorika, Imogan, Ugboshielg and many like that. I have been talking and appealing to Obaseki. He is giving me hope that something will be done. I can assure my constituents that something good is coming our way.

    What does the crisis portends for the APC in Edo?

    The tongue and teeth quarrel, but it is the ability to manage it that speaks volumes. There is no crisis in Edo State APC. What is happening is a family affair. At the appropriate time, we will settle and things will move on. If you are talking about our brothers (members-elect) that are not here, we will settle.

    There is no opposition party here. We are all APC members. You see what happened during the sallah celebration when Obaseki paid a surprise visit to Oshiomhole. There is no crisis in Edo. It is about one family and something positive will come out of it. Edo State is APC and APC is Edo.

    There are rumours that some of you planned defection, if Obaseki was not given second term ticket.

    I am not aware of any planned defection. There is strength in unity. I am a party man. The kind of leaders we have will come together at the appropriate time. This is a house jointly built by all the leaders, led by Oshiomhole. I know Oshiomhole will not allow the house he suffered to build collapse and by His Grace, it will not collapse.

    Obaseki will soon be marking three years in office. Do you think he has done enough?

    In terms of human development, he has done well. In infrastructural development, he has done well. Look at the Civil Service, reforms in the primary schools, the judiciary and tertiary institutions. In Ekpoma, the state university, there has been uninterrupted academic calendar. Across all sectors, the governor has done well. Obaseki has been paying salaries and attending to needs of workers. He has performed above expectations.

    Some party members said they are not supporting him because he is giving contract to outsiders and not patronising them…

    I condemn such statement. The people making such statements have not been doing well. Before becoming a politician, you must have a second address. You should have something doing. Those saying Obaseki is not taking care of them have no other things doing. The ones they were given before, what did they do with it? Were they able to set up businesses? They squandered what they made before. That is why some of us looked down on the so called leaders because they are not economically viable. When they had the opportunity, they misused it. I have worked in the bank for many years before joining politics.

    Most politicians engage in misplaced priorities. Many of those complaining now are old politicians. In those days when they were making money from all sources, they did not utilise the money well. Many of them had made money from previous administrations. They did not invest, but were building big mansions they can no longer maintain. I am advising them to have a second address. Can Obaseki share money to all Edo people? I feel sad when I hear that somebody has not been patronising politicians. If Obaseki is sharing money will he be able to pay salaries? Will he be able to do infrastructure? Politicians do not need to do what they cannot sustain economically when they are in power.

    What steps are you taking to boost tourism potentials of Somorika and other places in your constituency?

    Somorika is a tourist centre. If you get there, you will be amazed. We are talking to our people abroad. The reason we cannot talk about tourism sector in Somorika is because there is on access road to the place. You can only get there with motorcycle orva big car. Any small car would be finished before getting to Somorika. With the promise of Obaseki, I know the road problem will be a thing of the past in the area.

    If there is no access road, how do the people get quality heath care?

    We have a functioning health centre with nurses and others. We have water and electricity. The major problem is the road and that is why the place is not developing.

    The PDP has said it would stage a come back to power in the state.

    PDP is a dead party in Edo. They can never come back to power in Edo again. Is it because they were able to make serious in road during the presidential election? It is a dead party. I do not see the PDP coming to power in Edo again.

    Will it not happen, if there was sabotage on the part of APC members?

    With what is happening now, the Edo APC will come together as one. By the time we come together, we will be more stronger. In the next election, you will see how many votes we will bring out.

    Are you talking to other members-elect yet to be inaugurated?

    We are talking. We are not quarrelling. The only challenge is political differences which will not translate to enmity. There can be more aspirant but I know with the grass root support, there is not going to be problem about the Obaseki’s second term.

    The National Chairman and others suffered to build this party and I don’t think anybody will allow the house to be destroyed. Oshiomhole is from Edo North and the leader of the party in Edo. He is like a father to me. I have nothing against him. He is our father. Our loyalty is for him. There is no division among the lawmakers over Oshiomhole. Our loyalty is to him. The most important is to win next year’s election.

  • Edo Assembly crisis: Obaseki visits Oshiomole

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday visited the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, at his Iyamho country home.

    In his Sallah message to the Muslim community, the governor had enjoined the people to eschew bitterness and work for the state.

    To underscore his readiness to live by example, Obaseki visited Oshiomhole and his mother, Hajia Aishetu Oshiomole, despite their differences.

    He thanked the Muslims for supporting his administration in its bid to transform the state.

    The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Momoh,  commended the governor for his uncommon leadership.

    He advised him to ignore the forces of darkness and division in Edo State.

    The monarch also urged Obaseki to be prayerful and defend the interest of the state.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communications,  Crusoe Osagie, said Obaseki has demonstrated exemplary leadership.

    He said the visit will end the rift and foster unity in Edo APC.

    Osagie added: “The notion that these two men are adversaries is being propagated by morally and financially insolvent people seeking to profit from it.

    “ You cannot blame such people really. Their talents and abilities are severely limited. So, it is in their collective interest to stoke tension and drive division, but I can tell you that they have already failed.

    “It is not in their interest for Edo State to peacefully progress. So, they will try to mis-categorise this visit. This is what they have always done and it’s their stock in trade”.

    “True leaders understand that they represent the people in whose interests they must serve. This is why His Excellency has always said that the resources of the state are for the people only, and not for a negligible minority and nothing can ever change this.”

    Osagie was silent on whether Obaseki will issue a new proclamation for the inauguration of the House of Assembly.

    But, he noted the directive of the National Assembly on the contentious issue.

    The media aide said: “I cannot speak on this matter as it is subjudice. But, I think the whole world knows that the Edo State House of Assembly has already been inaugurated.

    “No person or group of persons or institution other than the judiciary can order a state governor to do anything on a matter that is presently before courts of competent jurisdiction.

    “We are a nation of laws and by the special grace of God, we will be alive to witness the law run its full course.”

  • Edo Assembly crisis: inauguration met requirements

    Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye has said inauguration of the House of Assembly met all requirements of law.

    Okiye, in a statement by his spokesperson, Comrade Aigbefo Iretiose, said: “The responsibility of the Edo State Governor, with regards to the inauguration of the House of Assembly, begins and ends with the issuance of a Proclamation Letter. Governor Obaseki duly issued the Proclamation Letter and the inauguration held at the House of Assembly.

    “While the inauguration was ongoing, some of the members-elect left the venue of the news conference organised by some of them, and went to the House of Assembly, where they presented themselves for inauguration at 3:30pm.

    “The House of Assembly is open to other members-elect who want to be inaugurated, just as Sunday Ojiezele and Emmanuel Okoduwa, who were inaugurated on Monday.

    He advised the members-elect who have not been inaugurated to complete their documentation and present themselves for inauguration.

    The State Police Command has urged aggrieved parties in the crisis to seek redress in a competent court of law.

    Read Also: Edo Assembly crisis: Police urge aggrieved parties to seek legal redress

    A statement by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Tunde Sunmonu, said the commissioner disapproved any form of procession for now, and advised any aggrieved party to seek redress in court.

    The order follows a request by the Joint Action for the Advancement of Democracy in Edo (JAADE), for police patrol at a peaceful march to register its disappointment over “skewed” inauguration of the Assembly.

    The leader, Comrade Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, who addressed reporters after aborting the procession, called for “immediate and unconditional restoration of an ideal democratic order where proper inauguration of the 24 members-elect would be done”.

    Edokpolo said the inauguration of only nine members was an assault on the people’s psyche. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the House of Assembly reverts to the true dictates of the rule of law and nip any unforeseen breakdown of law and order in the bud.

    According to Edokpolo, the installation of minority rule in the Assembly was uncivilized, barbaric and threat to democracy and peace.

    “Political desperados should not be allowed to mar our democratic trajectory else we will regret the repercussions of our pseudo complacency. We condemn all the varying tendencies behind this impasse,” he added.

  • APC intervenes in Edo Assembly crisis

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has intervened in the crisis that rocked the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday, which led to the impeachment of Deputy Speaker Victor Edoror.

    Two lawmakers, Foly Ogedengbe (Owan East) and Gani Audu (Estako West 1), were suspended for three months.

    A former Speaker, Justin Okonoboh, was named the new deputy Speaker.

    The warring lawmakers met with the State Working Committee at the party secretariat.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, State Chairman Anselm Ojezua said progress had been made to reconcile the lawmakers.

    Ojezua dismissed insinuations that the crisis was as a result of unhealthy relationship between Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    He said issues at the Assembly were personal and a case of mutual suspicion.

    “It is typical for anybody to say he is an Oshiomhole boy. We are all Oshiomhole boys including all the APC lawmakers.

    “So what happened is not as a result of any imaginary crisis but mutual suspicion and personal matters.”

     

     

  • Edo: Why we impeached Edoror – New Speaker

    The new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Elizabeth Ativie,  on Thursday explained what caused the recent change in the House leadership, saying the impeached speaker and his deputy were corrupt in their financial handling of the House.

    Ativie said Victor Edoror and Bright Osayande were constantly shortchanging other lawmakers.

    Ativie, who is the first female Speaker of the assembly said, “the former speaker, Hon Victor Edoro, just like I said at the chamber, was very corrupt. His highhandedness in managing his colleagues is one among equals. We were all first elected before electing him to become speaker to extent that he doesn’t come to the House as stipulated by House rules.

    “The funniest thing is that he changed the overhead of the House to suit his own ways, thus ensuring that his colleagues are not properly catered for.  You journalists can also observe that lawmakers in the Edo Assembly were now living like paupers. I don’t want to go into his reckless spending.”

     

  • Edo: PDP lawmakers asked to obey court orders

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City has thrown out an appeal for stay of execution by four suspended lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    It said the appeal by the lawmakers was “undue haste and jumping of the gun.”

    The court said the lawmakers must obey court orders.

    The lawmakers sought for stay of execution against an order of a High Court which restrained them and the police from gaining access into the premises of the assembly and the legislative quarters.

    In a unanimous judgment read by Justice H.M Ogunwumuji, the court held that the applicants were hasty in filing the appeal instead of allowing the motion on notice to be heard by the lower court.

    It held that it was a court that decides the nullity and validity of its decision and not the parties involved.

    The court said the appeal was premature.

    Justice Ogunwumiju said the parties could not be in contempt of a lower court and be seeking a higher court orders.

    She dismissed the appeal and awards no cost.

    Counsel to the lawmakers, Ferdinand Orbih, said they would study the ruling and react appropriately.

    The respondent Counsel, Ken Mozia, said the contempt committal was kept in abeyance because of the appeal.

     

  • Only rule of law can stop Edo assembly crisis – Speaker

    The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Uyi Igbe, has declared that only compliance to rule of law could put an end to the ongoing crisis at the assembly.

    The assembly has been under siege of the Nigerian Police since June 9 when four lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party were suspended for alleged misconduct.

    Workers of the assembly had also not been at their duty post since last week when armed mobile policemen stormed the assembly premises to stop ongoing renovation work.

    Igbe, who spoke at a press briefing on Wednesday, expressed hope that the police would start enforcing court judgments.

    The Speaker, who ruled out any political solution to the crisis, said the laws must be obeyed

    He bemoaned the daily hardship experienced by the people of the state occasioned by daily blockade of roads at the Oba Ovoramwen Square.

    He called on the police to stop the blockade in the interest of the people and alleged that the PDP and the police had perfected plans to ensure that a state of emergency was declared in Edo State.

    Recalling the genesis of the crisis, Igbe explained that they complied with the ruling delivered by Justice A. M Liman by not declaring seats of the four lawmakers vacant, but suspended them “for an indefinite period for misconduct as provided for under Order 38 of the Rules of the Procedure of the House of Assembly.”

    According to him, “the police in defiance of the court order actively disrupted the renovation work currently going on at the House of Assembly Complex and in the process sprayed tear-gas and/or other noxious chemicals on the Speaker and other members of the House.”

     

  • Policeman threatens to shoot Edo Speaker

    Pandemonium broke out at the Edo State House of Assembly on Friday as a policeman threatened to shoot the Speaker, Uyi Igbe.

    The speaker and other lawmakers were tear gassed by some mobile policemen who stormed the assembly premises in the afternoon.

    The policemen who said they were acting on “orders from above” chased all the workers on duty away and asked some to lie down.

    A policeman threatened to shoot the speaker after the lawmakers resisted the attempt to close down the assembly.

    The policemen were led by one ASP, Florence Joseph, who said she was doing her job and queried why the lawmakers were carrying out renovation work.

    The policemen are currently trapped inside the assembly premises as the lawmakers vowed not to allow them leave.

  • Edo deputy Speaker’s impeachment a joke – PDP caucus

    The Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the Edo State House of Assembly has described the impeachment of the House Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, “as a joke of the century.”

    It said a deputy Speaker could only be removed after a petition detailing allegations against the office holder has been signed by two third majority of the members.

    The Minority Whip of the House, Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, said the sitting at the Edo Government House was null and void as according to him, “there was no resolution of the House that the plenary session of the house should be moved to Government House.”

    “Under the House rule section 77, it is quite explicit of the way and manner the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker can be removed and under the rule, a petition must be signed by 2/3 majority of the members, stating details of the allegations against the office holders.”

    “Then an ad hoc committee is set up by the House to investigate the allegations and shall within seven days submit its reports. Immediately after the debate on the report, if 2/3 majority of the House favours it, it is only then that the holder of the office can be removed. Anything short of this is null and void and he cannot be removed.

    “They are only 15 members and the Speaker cannot vote and for them to remove the Deputy Speaker, they must be 16.”

    The Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Emma Okoduwa, said, “If the APC wants to have a Deputy Speaker, it is for the APC caucus and not for the Edo State House of Assembly. The Deputy Speaker can only be impeached by 2/3 majority of the members of the House and they are only 15; that does not constitute 2/3 majority. That is what the constitution says.”

  • Edo suspended deputy speaker impeached

    The suspended Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Festus Ebea, has been impeached.

    He was impeached for alleged misconduct and misdemeanor.

    Ebea and three others -Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhionmwon South) Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba-Okha) and Patrick Osayimwen(Oredo East) were suspended last month for alleged misconduct.

    The sitting where the impeachment took place was held at an old chamber located inside the Edo State Government House.

    Security was beefed up around the Edo State House of Assembly and the police had earlier said it would not allow any group among the warring lawmakers to enter the chamber for legislative business.

    Lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party that resumed plenary on Monday were not allowed entry.

    They waited for five hours and adjourned plenary till Monday.

    Workers of the assembly were locked outside waiting for the APC lawmakers to resume duty when news filtered in that the sitting had been relocated to the old chamber.

    Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, under matters of urgent public importance moved a motion that the old chamber be used for plenary pending when renovation works at the assembly complex was complete.

    He said, “This is the old chamber. It was from here the legislative business was moved to the new place. We have lot of committee reports to consider.”

    “I moved that we sit in this old chamber until the new chamber is refurbished and ready to use.”

    Speaker Uyi Igbe said the chamber could not be used for plenary because the former Deputy Speaker and other suspended members destroyed the doors when they forcibly gained entrance into the chamber.

    He said the chamber would be ready for use within three to four weeks.