Politics
Edo: Obaseki On The Spot As 19 Members-Elect Say He Cannot Force Speaker On Them
By Ayodele Oluwafemi
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was on the spot, Monday, after 19 of the 24 members-elect of the State House of Assembly condemned his dithering procrastination in issuing a proclamation for the 7th State House of Assembly.
The members-elect insisted that the governor cannot force a Speaker or deputy Speaker on them saying that he at best can only lobby them on his choice.
The delay in proclaiming the House of Assembly has been attributed to a faceoff between the governor and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as they jockey over control of the leadership of the house. All 24 members-elect, remarkably belong to the governor’s All Progressives Congress, APC.
A meeting of the state caucus last weekend did not resolve the issue though there were assurances that the stalemate would be resolved on Monday.
However, indications that the faceoff was far from being resolved emerged as the 19 members-elect at a press conference called on leading stakeholders in the state including the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the governor to issue the proclamation.
The issue took a twist as 19 members-elect led by former Commissioner of Education, Washington Osifo, and member-elect representing Uhunwonde Constituency, at a press conference in Benin City on Monday demanded that the governor do the needful as required of him by the constitution.
The yet-to-be inaugurated lawmakers accused the governor of deliberately refusing to allow the House of Assembly perform its constitutional duties.
“Constitutionally, by virtue of section 105, sub section 1 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor of the state is required to immediately issue a letter of proclamation for the inauguration of the new assembly after the end of a legislative dispensation,” they noted.
The members-elect stated that no matter how powerful the Governor is, he cannot impose a speaker or deputy speaker on the 7th Edo State House of Assembly, while noting that the Governor can only lobby for his preferred candidates.
GWG gathered that two candidates have emerged for the position of Speaker, Victor Edoror, Esan Central and Frank Okiye, Esan North East 1. The governor is said to be insisting on Okiye while majority of the members and Oshiomhole are insisting on Edoror, a former deputy Speaker of the 6th House of Assembly who was impeached.
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