Tag: Edo

A group, the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA), has written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the Edo State House of Assembly crisis. The solution to the crisis, according to the organisation, is for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from fanning the embers of disunity.

The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fuel the crisis in Edo State and destabilise the government.

In its letter to the President, the group said that the plot is not in the interest of democracy, urging him to rise to the occasion as a statesman. Copies of the letter were  sent to the Chief Justice of the Federation, Human Rights Commission and civil society groups. The letter was signed by a leader of the group, Mr. John Mayaki.

CGGEJA described the PDP as a destructive opposition party bent on creating chaos, noting that the state has been enveloped in anxiety, following the threats to recapture the state. It said that since the controversial defection of some All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, more steps have been taken to divert the attention of Governor Adams Oshiomhole from governance.

The letter reads in part: “The oppostion has a role in democracy. It has a duty to keep the government on its toes. The essence of the opposition in a well-established democracy, if it is to be of benefit, is that it must be constructive as this is the strength of the opposition in the established democracies of the world. They recognize that they, together with the government of the day, proceed from the major premise that they have a joint aim; to advance the welfare of the people.

“But, what we see in Edo State in recent times is the mobilisation of the opposition party members  and some disgruntled elements who want political power relinquished to them on a platter of gold to embark on the policy of obstructing the government, without devising a programme on which they would base an alternative one. Their policies have been narrow in concept and often violent, abusive and ‘terroristic’ and their first port of call is the State House of Assembly. The people of Edo state have become unwilling spectators in the unfolding drama.”

On the  May 9, 2014, three members of the House of Assembly had obtained from the Federal High Court, Benin-City, an ex-parte order of interim injunction restraining the Speaker from declaring their seats vacant, pending the determination of the motion on notice. But, the court refused the prayer for an injunction restraining the applicants from being suspended from the House.

On the June 9, 2014, the House suspended four members. It also went to the court to challenge their refusal comply with the suspension. Noting that the order was not complied it, the group lamented that state agents have turned around as the enforcement wing of the PDP to aiding the recalcitrant lawmakers to invade the plennary session. Before the crisis, the House of Assembly complex was being renovated. Thus, members moved to the old complex. But, the police  also blocked access to the road to the City Centre, (Ovonranwen Square), causing untold economic hardship and social dislocations for  the state capital.

“In what seems like a script, the police, on the 7th of July 2014, assisted the PDP legislators to gain access into the Assembly Complex under renovation and pretended to have held plenary. This is a complete mockery of democracy and a slap on the rule of law,” the group added.

CGGEJA chided the PDP for threatening to cripple the Edo government by invoking the federal might, instead of planing the role of a legitimate opposition to the Al Progressives Congress (APC) government. It said while the Labour Party in Britain follows a political doctrine opposed to that of the Conservative Party, the PDP is relying on anti-democratic means to gain political control.

The group added: “The situation in Edo is peculiar.  The opposition, which lacks popular support, is undermining the popular and people-oriented government by allegedly inducing people to defect from the ruling party and plotting the impeachment of the governor.

CGGEJA said that, despite the fact that Oshiomhole has not wage any war against the opposition, key PDP chieftains are trying to distract him from governace.

It said the crisis has implications for the state, stressing that the gains of the progress made under the Oshipmhole Administration may be wiped out.

The group said the government has changed the orientation of the people about service delivery, fought the infrastructure battle, promoted transparency and accountability and restored the glory of the state. It added that these revolutionry tendencies and push for radical change are beyond the ken and comprehension of Oshiomhole’s detractors.

It said that, in this period of our socio-economic life,  old habits, political, social and economic thought should be discarded and a new political ideology of higher moral conception of public and social duty and obligation must come to the front burner.

The group said that Oshiomhole needs the cooperation of the stakeholderes to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.

“Therefore, I humbly call on President Goodluck Jonathan, the various security agencies, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, The National Human Rights Commission, well meaning Nigerians and Edo people, both home and abroad, to prevail on those acting as clogs in the wheel of progress in our dear State to desist forthwith  to forestall  the breakdown of law and order,” it added.