Edo State lawmakers have advanced reasons why they kicked out the Speaker,
Victor Edoror and his deputy, Bright Osayande from their exalted
positions.
The lawmakers, who have elected the first female speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth
Ativie representing Uhunmwonde state constituency, cited alleged greed,
corrupt practices, among other unethical practices as the reasons for
removing the duo from offices. Her deputy is Dr. Joseph Okonoboh
representing Igueben State Constituency.
To further compound his woes, the impeached Speaker has been slammed with
three months suspension from legislative duty, but he has insisted that he
remains the Speaker of the Edo State Assembly.
The house has raised a five member committee headed by the lawmaker
representing Akoko Edo constituency one, Mr. Kabiru Adjoto to dig into the
financial recklessness of the impeached Speaker between June 2015 and May
3rd this year, as he is alleged to have six fraud cases before the
anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The impeachment of the two principal members of the house had sparked fire
and armed thugs suspected to be loyal to the speaker reportedly invaded
the house and shot sporadically into the air to scare the lawmakers and
others who were at the gallery to watch the day’s proceedings.
There was heavy shooting by suspected thugs at the house of assembly
complex which forced people and traders at the popular Oba market and
adjoining streets and roads to scamper for safety.
Sixteen out of the 24 APC and PDP lawmakers in the house signed the
impeachment notice that was made available to newsmen in the state.
It was gathered that trouble started when the member representing Owan
East constituency and Majority Leader of the house, Mr. Folly Ogedegbe
moved a motion to impeach speaker Edoror and the Deputy Speaker.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Gani Audu representing Etsako West
constituency 1.
According to the motion, “We the under listed and undersigned Honourable
members representing the various constituencies in the Edo State House of
Assembly have on this day 3rd of May 2016 resolved to impeach our speaker,
Hon. (Chief) Victor Edoror Tiger and the Deputy Speaker Hon. Osayande for
acts of gross misconduct.”
Before Edoror’s ouster, a speaker ex-tempo, Mr. Patrick Iluobe was
appointed by the lawmakers to preside over the business of the day.
The new speaker, Rt. Hon. Ativie , while fielding reporters’ questions,
said the members accused the former speaker of alleged greed and
corruption, stating the lawmakers cannot tolerate an indecent character
to occupy the exalted position as speaker of the hallowed chamber.
The new speaker stated that if the former speaker was found wanting at the
end of the three months within which the committee is expected to submit
its report, he will be handed over to the relevant authority for
prosecution.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Kabiru Adjoto, alleged that the impeached
speaker “is violently corrupt who have flair for eating government money
just the way the red mouth squirrel has mouth for palm kernel”, adding ,
“As it (Squirrel) is eating one, it is looking at another one that is how
Edoror is.”
Continuing, he said: “As it is today, Edoror has a lot of EFCC case
hanging on his neck, and you media men can go and verify these we cannot
afford to have a speaker that is been investigated by the EFCC because of
his corrupt nature.
‘’As earlier mentioned by our new speaker, Edoror has a corrupt tendency
that cannot be mentioned by one, enough is enough, that is while sixteen
members of the house today signed impeachment notice against him. As we
speak today, both APC and PDP members in the house signed impeachment
notice against him.”
But Edoror in his reaction said he remains the elected speaker of the
house, stressing that only eleven lawmakers were at the sitting in the
hallowed chambers when he was impeached.
It was gathered that the house under Edoror had recently speared a summon
on some commissioners in Oshiomhole’s cabinet among whom were the
commissioner for Finance and that of ESIEC and two others.
Part of the lawmakers queries on the commissioners who appeared before
them were on the Edo University and the reason why the state electoral
commission has not conducted election into the 18 local government
councils in the state.
Also, under the watch of the embattled ex-speaker, the house sacked the 18
local government chairmen without reference to the state governor; a
matter our Correspondent gathered did not go down well with the state
government.
Edoror is seen as the only speaker whose tenure was short lived and the
lawmakers were also against him for not protecting their collective
interests.