Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo
state, says the senate has gone beyond its constitutional powers in giving him
an ultimatum over the state assembly crisis.
On Tuesday, the senate gave the
governor a week ultimatum to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of
the state house of assembly.
A misunderstanding between Adams
Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and
Obaseki had led to the factionalisation of the state assembly.
Nine lawmakers loyal to Obaseki
were secretly inaugurated on June 17, leaving their colleagues in the camp of
Oshiomhole stranded.
In a statement Osarodion Ogie,
secretary to the state government (SSG), issued on his behalf, the governor
said he would not issue a fresh proclamation.
He described the action of the
senate as an illegality that cannot stand.
“The Edo state government watched
with alarm today as the distinguished senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
in a step that was not totally unexpected, purported to pass a resolution in
the following terms: – Directing the Governor of Edo State to issue a fresh
proclamation for the inauguration of the Edo state house of assembly, and
ordering a fresh inauguration of the Edo state house of assembly within one (1)
week from the date of the said resolution,” he said.
“As earlier mentioned, this move
was not unexpected in the light of the enormous political pressure which had
been brought to bear on the officers and members of the distinguished senate by
the highly-placed and powerful persons who are intent on foisting their will
and choices on the good people of Edo state.
“This is borne out by the
recorded statements made by one Seid Oshiomhole (a member-elect and younger
brother of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole) wherein he boasted that both the senate president, Senator Ahmed
Lawan and the speaker of the house of representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi
Gbajabiamila have been instructed on what to do in this matter.
“The government of Edo state
wishes to observe that the chairman and members of ad-hoc committee of the
senate which visited Edo state were made aware of the existence of at least
three (3) suits pending before various courts wherein the factual and legal
dispute regarding the Edo State House of Assembly inauguration have been
submitted to the courts by both contending parties for resolution.
“It is unfortunate that the
distinguished senate would act in flagrant breach of these various court crders
and purport to come to factual and legal conclusions concerning a matter in
which the parties are already before the courts and therefore sub judice.
“The Edo state government
maintains that there is nowhere in the constitution particularly Section 11(4)
which enables the national assembly to take over any house of assembly or in
this respect, the Edo state house of assembly.”
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