Traditional rulers in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State have dissociated themselves from the call by traditional rulers in Edo North and central senatorial districts that the position of speaker be returned to the central.
A former Speaker, Justice Okonoboh, representing Igueben constituency from central district was last month impeached by the House of Assembly. Subsequently, Adjoto Kabir representing Akoko-Edo 1 from Edo North was elected as speaker. The state governor, Godwin Obaseki, hails from Edo South district, his deputy Philip Shaibu, Edo North, while the impeached speaker was from Edo Central senatorial district.
The chairman of Akoko-Edo traditional council, Eshimokhai Idogu III, the Olokpe of Okpe, who spoke on behalf of others, said the election of Adjoto as speaker had broken a jinx.
He said nobody from the area had either been appointed speaker or deputy speaker from the defunct Mid-West region till now in Edo Sate.
He said the traditional rulers from the speaker’s local government had to visit him in solidarity and say that they were “solidly behind him”.
The traditional rulers said they declined to attend the meeting that took place at the palace of Otaru of Auchi because “they are autonomous and not subject to any traditional ruler.
”
Responding, the House Speaker, Kabir, assured the royal fathers that the leadership of the legislative chamber had resolved to support Governor Obaseki to develop the state.
It would be recalled that the traditional rulers from Edo North and Central senatorial districts in August met at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, and urged members of the House to return the speakership position to the central to ensure fairness and balance in the political equation in the state.
