The executive governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has attributed the problems at the Edo State House of Assembly to godfatherism, particularly, a former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole.
Speaking with Nigerians in diaspora on Saturday evening and monitored by The London Post, the governor alleged that the problem of the House of Assembly started last year after Oshiomhole attempted to handpick candidates he could control, in an attempt to checkmate him.
“We had elections last May 29 and Edo had elections for the National and House of Assembly seats. The National Assembly seats came out mixed, APC had one Senator, and PDP had two Senators.
You May Also Like
“When it came to the elections for the House of Assembly, I make it bold that I went, I campaigned for all our candidates, and all the candidates were returned because of the work we had done.
“This was despite the fact that the Godfather, the Chairman of the party at that time, cancelled the primary to get in people he wanted. The problem started from the primary where the godfather wanted to fix people in the House of Assembly, people he controls so that at any time he wanted to get rid of me, he will ask them to do so.”
Obaseki explained how he told the lawmakers from Edo Central to meet and unanimously agree on a lawmaker who would emerge as a speaker since he is from Edo South and the deputy is from Edo north.
The governor who had had a tough time with the Oshiomhole blamed him for the crisis in the House.
“We didn’t mind, went ahead, won the election and decided to inaugurate the House of Assembly. There were 24 members but two days before the inauguration, they had gone around abusing me that the governor refused to proclaim the house.
“We sat as a party and decided what the leadership of the house should be like, how it should be zoned. We said, for instance, since the governor comes from Edo South and the deputy Edo north, it is quite fair that the speakership should go to the Central.”
“I said, look, these are the leaders from the Central, these are the candidates from the region, who do you think should be the speaker? They came back with their decision, and that was the decision of the party, but, some people were unhappy about it, you know, one person who was our former Chairman that, the leadership which the party agreed is what was inaugurated.
“They said they would not accept it and demanded another proclamation because 14 of them were not happy. The court said we cannot proclaim a house twice, but for six months, these people refused to go to the house to be inaugurated.
Edo people and their constituencies voted for them, but because of a godfather, they refused, hoping the godfather can impose and change the law.
“After six months, the constitution says that if you haven’t sat for a minimum of 180 legislative days, your seat becomes vacant, therefore, the leadership made the seats vacant. Is Nigeria a Banana republic, we have a government and a legislature in place because of a godfather who thinks he owns Edo?”
Obaseki warned “the so-called godfathers” to stop harassing everyone people. He said “they behave lawlessly because they can control the press and have the money”, stressing that “they don’t own Nigeria”
On the violence recorded so far in Edo State ahead of the governorship election, the governor said: “they know they cannot win an election so they focussing on banditry and violence.”
Mr Obaseki did not, however, explain the reason behind the wee hours of the inauguration last year nor did he explain the current crisis that led to the decision to remove the Complex roof.
More Stories
Tinubu Secures APC Presidential Ticket for 2027 Election
APC PRIMARY: Conflicting Results Characterise the Edo South Senatorial District Exercise
Exclusive: APC Chieftain says Edo Governor ‘Distracted by Politics,’ Has ‘Achieved Nothing’
Former Edo Commissioner Nehikhare Criticises Edo Government, says Govt ‘Not Working’
Nigerian Opposition Leaders Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso Join New Political Party
