Lawmakers loyal to Godwin
Obaseki, governor of Edo state, have accused Adams Oshiomhole, national
chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of being behind the
plot to seal up the assembly.
The house of
representatives had asked the inspector-general of police to seal up
the Edo parliament, pending the time the crisis among the state lawmakers is
resolved.
Disagreement between and Obaseki
and Oshiomhole had split the state legislators into two factions.
On June 17, nine lawmakers loyal
to Obseki elected principal officers and took the oath of office secretly. 15
loyalists of Oshiomhole had described the action of their colleagues as
unacceptable, vowing to do all within their power to revoke it.
The lower legislative chamber of
the national assembly had raised a 13-man panel to look into the crisis.
On Wednesday, the panel submitted
its report. It recommended that a fresh inauguration should be conducted and
that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police should ensure peace.
Reacting in a statement, Frank
Okiye, who was elected speaker, accused the committee of acting in favour
of Oshiomhole.
He added that security forces
could not seal up the assembly because of a court order refraining the police
from interfering in the affairs of the lawmakers.
“It has come to our knowledge
that the Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating issues
surrounding the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly has recommended
that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Department of State Services
(DSS) should seal up the Assembly,” the statement read.
“Considering what we came to know
in the course of this process, the recommendation of the Ad-Hoc committee does
not come to us as a surprise.
“For example, the chattered plane
marked 5N FCT, which brought the committee members to Benin City, was paid for
by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, who is a major party in the disagreement.
“Also, the younger brother to the
National Chairman, Seid Oshiomhole, in a recent leaked audio conversation,
revealed the underhand dealings in Abuja regarding the matter. He stated that
Oshiomhole and his proxies have been having meetings with the committee members
and other actors in the issue in Abuja and dolling out money to ensure the
issue goes in their favour.
“With all these, it was clear
that the ad-hoc committee was up to no good. Their report was always going to
be biased.
“The National Assembly must take
note that they are expected to act as agents of peace and not merchants of
crisis. Edo State has always been peaceful and any attempt for them to carry
out this order will certainly disrupt the peace that is currently being enjoyed
in the state.”
Simon Egbebulem, spokesman of
Oshiomhole, dismissed Okiye’s comment, saying the federal lawmakers were doing
their job.
“You and I know that the house of
reps is an independent institution. What has the national chairman got to do
with their job? They are doing a job as their oversight function, so what has
how they went to Benin to do their work has to do with the national chairman?
What they are saying is nonsensical,” he said
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