Edo House Crisis: Follow Peace Or Go To Court, Obaseki Tells Oshiomhole’s Supporters

In his first public comment on the development in the Edo State House of Assembly, Governor Godwin Obaseki has urged all those aggrieved to seek peace or go to court.

Associates of the national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole have been vociferous in condemning the election of Frank Okiye as speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly by nine of 24 members-elect at a session convened late in the night on Monday.

The nine present were more than the eight required for a quorum, supporters of the move have said.

The governor speaking in public for the first time on the issue on Friday when he received leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo Central Senatorial District, urged all those aggrieved to seek the peace or go to court over the development that has split the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Leader of the Esan delegation, Prince Mackor Shaka Momodu, while appreciating the governor’s alleged non-interference observed that only one of the six legislators from Esan land was against the development in the legislative house.

Governor Obaseki, said the ideals of the APC were built on inclusiveness, adding that with the governor from Edo South, his Deputy from Edo North, it was only natural and fair for the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to come from Edo Central, which was the party’s stance in the matter.

“Politics should be about inclusiveness and every part of the whole must have a sense of belonging. Otherwise, you cannot carry everybody along. We want to build an Edo where fairness, equity, justice and inclusiveness reign in our party and that is what the party tried to demonstrate in the last House of Assembly election,” he said.

The governor said he is ready to support the decision of the Esan Leaders on the choice of the speaker and anybody who is not satisfied with the decision should toe the line of peace or seek redress in the court of law.

He noted, “My view on the leadership of the EDHA is to have a tripod arrangement in Edo State where each senatorial district has a sense of representation.”

Obaseki stated that the party presented leadership of Edo Central Senatorial District with the offer to choose who the leader of the House should be and they made a decision to stick with Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, which the party had to respect. He assured that the state executive will continue to maintain the cordial relationship it has built over the past few years with the legislative arm of government.

Welcoming the development, Momodu said, “Esan people have been yearning to have a speaker who is the number three person in the state. We thank you for carrying the party along and for allowing the decision of the party to stand and not interfere in the election of the Speaker.”

He added, “Among the six elected members of the Assembly from Esanland, five are already working with the new Speaker. We will reach out to the sixth member to align with the Speaker so we can give full cooperation to your administration.”

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