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.
The tussle for the control of Edo State House of Assembly heats up as Governor Godwin Obaseki said the senate’s directive ordering him to issue a fresh proclamation for the state house of assembly was illegal and clearly out of the federal parliament's constitutional power.
Obaseki said this while reacting to the latest directive of the senate asking him to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the state parliament.
Obaseki had on Monday boasted that he would not issue a fresh proclamation letter for the inauguration of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly.
Nine lawmakers loyal to Obaseki were secretly inaugurated on June 17, while others were not sworn in by the governor.
Obaseki in a statement signed by Osarodion Ogie, secretary to the Edo State Government, said the senate was acting under political pressure from highly placed individuals whose intentions are to control the state.
Obaseki said, “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.
“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."
Obaseki stated that the Senate was aware of at least three suits pending before various courts wherein the factual and legal dispute regarding the Edo State House of Assembly's inauguration were submitted.