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Edo NASS caucus asks Obaseki to issue fresh proclamation on Assembly

By Adamu Abuh, Abuja
22 November 2019   |   3:31 am
Members of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the National Assembly yesterday urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation for the proper inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Members of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the National Assembly yesterday urged Governor Godwin Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation for the proper inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Peter Akpatason, who briefed reporters at the end of an emergency meeting, said that the call was in line with the provision of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The caucus stressed the need to have the 24-elected members of the Assembly properly inaugurated to enable them duly represent their constituents and make invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the state.

Besides, the caucus urged the Governor Obaseki-led administration to stop forthwith all forms of intimidation and harassment of elected officials, appointees, and his perceived enemies.

Underlining the need for peace to reign in Edo State, the caucus, without hesitation, expressed confidence in the leadership of the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

The caucus members, Francis Alimikhena, Patrick Aisowieren, Johnson Oghuma, Julius lhonvbere and Dennis ldahosa, urged Obaseki and his cronies to put in place measures aimed at entrenching democratic practices in the state.

“In recent times, Edo State, the heartbeat of Nigeria, has been in the news mostly for the wrong reasons. A state that was known for excellence, cultural pride, sports, education, commerce and leadership at all levels, suddenly was in the news for activities and actions that were generally antithetical to good governance, respect for law and order, and socio-economic and cultural progress and prosperity. How did Edo steadily descend to the almost inglorious level?

“It is now well known that the crisis has its origin with the nocturnal, illegal and unconstitutional inauguration of a handful of elected members of the House of Assembly, as orchestrated by Obaseki administration.

“Obaseki and his management, for some rather strange reason generated, swallowed and believed that the majority of the elected members were not loyal to the governor and were out to impeach him.”

“This illegal act by the governor, unprecedented violence, had been unleashed on the majority 15 members at Golden Tulip Hotel in Benin City by thugs led by the Governor’s Chief Security Officers.

“This action was followed by wanton acts of violence, intimidation, gross violation of the rights of citizens and the use of hate speech on any one perceived as being opposed to the governor.”

In fact, within a short time, all those perceived not to be loyal to the governor and his deputy were sacked from their jobs.

“These included commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, and supervisory councillors.

Four local council chairmen were framed on dubious grounds and also removed from office. The governor and his deputy abridged the rights of members to freely associate and organise themselves and threatened the leaders of the Edo People’s Movement (EPM), a socio-cultural pressure group, within the party. Their businesses were marked for demolition and their homes monitored by thugs,” the caucus noted.

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