As Edo Assembly Crisis Deepens, Thugs Say It’s A Goal For Obaseki

The crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly took another dimension on Tuesday as thugs in their numbers, took over the assembly complex with security men looking on.

The crisis was sharpened at dawn on Tuesday with the news that the inauguration of the assembly took place at midnight with Hon. Frank Okiye, emerging as speaker and Hon. Yekini Idiaye, as deputy speaker.

Nine members were present during the midnight inauguration that saw one of the members-elect bused in for the function wearing shorts.

Tension heightened with the conspicuous presence of thugs around the gates leading to the main assembly complex. The thugs were settled in camps, drinking and smoking around the complex as security operatives of Nigeria Police Force, Civic Defence Corps and Edo State Joint Task Force (Operation Wabaizian) taking position around the premises.  

The aura around the complex took another dimension when the leader of the Public Works Volunteer (PUWOV), Kelly Okungbowa, popularly known as Ebo Stone led some Pro-Obaseki Edo youths to the complex, singing and chanting solidarity songs in support of Governor Godwin Obaseki and Frank Okiye, the purported elected speaker.

The cross-section of the Pro-Obaseki Edo youth carried placards with inscription like “Frank Okiye is a goal”, “Congratulations to our newly elected speaker. Hon. Frank Okiye”, “Hon. Okiye na you, we want”, “Edo concerned youths: we are in support of Governor Godwin Obaseki”, while solidarity songs to the Edo State Governor.

Addressing journalists at the assembly complex, Kelly Okungbowa claimed that Edo youths were in support of the emergence of Okiye as Speaker and that it was the prerogative of Governor Obaseki to decide who he wants to work with as the speaker and deputy speaker.

“We are here this morning to felicitate with one of our own, Hon. Frank Okiye, the newly elected speaker of Edo State House of Assembly. We are here to come and tell the people of the world that what happened, yesterday, is a new development in our state. We want to use this opportunity to urge the elected members to follow suit with the same  way others came yesterday to elect their speaker, their deputy speaker and sign the inauguration form.”

He, however, noted that the remaining members-elect should do the needful by signing their inauguration forms in order to make peace reign in Edo State.

Following their reported inauguration, the Okiye led House of Assembly adjourned proceedings to July 17.

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