Group demands immediate inauguration of Edo Assembly

A group, under the aegis of One Love Foundation, has urged Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to make proclamation for the inauguration of the state Seventh House of Assembly without further delay.

President and Founder of the Foundation, Mr. Patrick Eholor, who spoke with journalists yesterday shortly after a protest in Benin City, the state capital, appealed to the governor to set motion for the inauguration of the lawmakers-elect without further delay.

He said: “We are gathered here today for a peaceful protest to remind the Governor of Edo State that the citizens​ deserve better. We are aware that most of the states have inaugurated the House of Assembly members.”

“This is our Seventh House and we are hoping that as of now, he (Obaseki) would transmit to the Clerk of the House so that the lawmakers can carry out their duty and functionality of democracy and also that the dividends​ of democracy can reach the people who voted them into power. That is why we have called men and women today, who believe in democracy, to please appeal to them.”

Eholor advised Obaseki and whosoever he has differences with to “come to a round table to settle them because they cannot use Edo people to settle their issues.”

“We cannot continue to suffer this pain. It is very clear in the 1999 Constitution, Section 105, sub-section 3 that when election is conducted, the people have been duly elected, that the governor has the right to transmit to the clerk of the House of Assembly so that the people can be sworn in so that they can continue with the business for the people.

“The governor is very well read, we are appealing to his conscience that no matter what is going on within him or within the party, he should do the needful and respect the right of those who voted for him and those who voted for the House of Assembly members.”

However, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, had in his reaction to why Obaseki was yet to make a proclamation for the inauguration of the Assembly, said the governor, who was still in Abuja, could not be doing proclamation of the Assembly in Edo State.

He said as soon as the governor is back from Abuja, he would proclaim the Assembly.