Ours is a blessed nation. We are blessed with thieves, kidnappers and armed robbers. We are also blessed with educated illiterates—some of whom occupy leadership positions. Many of them are elected lawmakers, who have, however, turned out to be lawbreakers. A mischievous friend says but for parliamentary immunity, these hooligans, these barbarians, these rascals should be behind bars.
My friend is in the same class with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, who last week advised lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly to always use democratic means to effect leadership change.
Oba Ewuare II did not mince words in describing their style as hooliganism and barbarism. He said he was not against leadership change but abhors frequent violent changes of the House leadership. The Oba was disappointed at the throwing of chairs and use of fisticuffs. He delivered an uppercut when he said these actions were alien to the prefix ‘Honourable’ they all love to attach to their names.
With due respect to the Oba, I sincerely believe that these men behind the violent leadership change in the House deserve honour for their bravery. Their wives and children should be proud of their exploits. I was green with envy watching the scenes on television. Nollywood movies are not even that interesting. Great plots without scripting.
From what I gathered, the speaker that was violently removed, Justin Okonoboh, was doing ‘chop-alone’. That is undemocratic. His traducers claim he was just ‘chopping the head of his life’ without carrying his colleagues along. Sacrilege!
Okonoboh became Speaker July 25 last year after Hon Elisabeth Ativie stepped down as Speaker to balance power equation. She became his deputy and the two of them were booted out last week.
Okonoboh, I learnt, would have lost the position last May but he postponed the resumption of plenary. He was very creative about the whole thing by saying he was effecting repairs in the Assembly complex. He was not lucky last week. Immediately he called for votes and proceeding of the day, the superb lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo II, Emmanuel Agbaje, fished out a paper from his pocket. It turned out to be an impeachment notice.
Okonoboh tried to silence him by shouting: “Sit down, I do not recognise you.” But that was not enough to stop this great actor— sorry lawmaker. Soon the maze was seized. Some other great actors— this word again, I meant to write lawmakers— rushed towards where Okonoboh was sitting and he ordered him to leave.
One of his supporters, Damian Lawan, moved to checkmate them by aiming for the gavel which was later retrieved from him. Okonoboh was pushed out of the Speaker’s seat by men whose children will always be proud of them for the televised show of shame— sorry, show of bravery.
Okonoboh’s men were not done. After he read the handwriting on the wall and walked away from the seat, one of his supporters, Ezehi Igbas, attempted to stop Gallant Eruaga from sitting on the Speaker’s seat as Protem Pro Speaker. Igbas got the beating of his life from four men of honour and flee. This will sure make a great script for even Hollywood. I am immensely proud of these guys.
Their gallantry made Okonoboh leave the plenary. Within minutes, Kabiru Adjoto was sworn-in as elected Speaker. To show that these guys are geniuses, they made a former Speaker, Victor Edoror, Deputy Speaker. Edoror was removed as speaker last year over alleged high-handedness, dictatorial tendencies and financial recklessness. His sins have been forgiven.
In the spirit of accountability, Adjoto froze all accounts of the Assembly. He also suspended Okonoboh, Ativie and Foly Ogedengbe, who was Majority Leader. He also ordered the Clerk to seize all official vehicles belonging to them.
Ativie got a letter asking her to return the cars in her possession and she swiftly rushed to her lawyer. The lawyer wrote the clerk and claimed ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole had given her the official car she used as Speaker for her sacrifice in stepping down for Okonoboh to be Speaker.
There is another heroic act that I must not forget to recall. After plenary, Adjoto and his supporters went to chase Okonoboh out of office. They made sure he did not leave with the official vehicle.
Adjoto gave a speech worthy of winning a Grammy for Spoken Word. I have never seen a more brilliant speech before. I certainly will frame it and hang it on the wall of shame – sorry, hall of fame.
Adjoto, who accused Okonoboh of desecrating the Assembly, said: “We came together to say no that the institution is more deserving to be protected than the interest of an individual. The wife has suddenly turned herself to the 25th member of the Edo State House of Assembly. We are 24 members but we were surprised that anything we discussed at the Executive Session, the wife will hear and start calling our wives to tell them what we discussed and they should tell their husbands not to do it.
“The wife uses the Speaker vehicle and convoy as if she is Mr. Speaker. The other day the wife and his son used the convoy to the NYSC camp and all policemen stood at attention for her thinking it was Mr. Speaker. That is desecration of the parliament.
“Mr. Speaker is not supposed to be a contractor but we discovered that he award contracts without due process. We have cautioned him severally. He refused to heed to our advice. We told him he represented an institution and he was our symbol especially with the way he conduct himself publicly.
“He just came back from America where he said he visited eight states whereas he shut down the Assembly. We were not supposed to go for holiday but he shut the House because of his son’s graduation. He stopped us from working for Edo people. We have a government and governor that is working but without parliament no governor can work well. The governor need the suppprt and approval from parliament to function effectively. He is shutting down activities that is detrimental to the running of the state. The governor is working and it is our duty as a parliament to support him.
“16 of us initially signed the impeachment notice. What we need is two third which is 16 members. After we finished, we are now 19 more than the two third requirements.
“They have been suspended for a period of three months to give room for proper investigation of their activities. We need to set a standard for the House. The precedent Okonoboh met, he destroyed it. He is not doing anything to set new things. When you look at him, you think he is somebody who can perform as a medical doctor. He is weak but terribly dangerous.”
My final take: With lawmakers like these, the good days – sorry, dark days– are gone and the light has come to stay in Edo House. There is now hope for the hopeless people. A special variant of democracy has also seen the light. The end will always justify the means. All hail the men of might in the hallowed chamber.
