The Edo State Government has accused the Senate of actions capable of
\nplunging the state into crisis of a monumental proportion.<\/p>\n
A statement signed by the Secretary to the Edo State Government,
\nOsarodion Ogie noted with dismay a directive from the Senate through a
\nresolution directing the State Government to issue a fresh proclamation
\nfor the inauguration of the Edo House and inaugurate the Assembly within
\none week.<\/p>\n
The statement reads:<\/p>\n
The Edo State Government watched with alarm today as the distinguished
\nSenate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a step that was not totally
\nunexpected, purported to pass a resolution in the following terms: –
\nDirecting the Governor of Edo State to issue a fresh proclamation for
\nthe inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.<\/p>\n
Ordering a fresh inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly within
\none (1) week from the date of the said Resolution.<\/p>\n
As earlier mentioned, this move was not unexpected in the light of the
\nenormous political pressure which had been brought to bear on the
\nOfficers and Members of the distinguished Senate by the highly placed
\nand powerful persons who are intent on foisting their will and choices
\non the good people of Edo State.
\nThis is borne out by the record statements made by one Seid Oshiomhole
\n(a Member-elect and younger brother of the National Chairman of the All
\nProgressives Congress Comrade Adams Oshiomhole) wherein he boasted that
\nboth the Senate President Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the
\nHouse of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have been instructed
\non what to do in this matter.<\/p>\n
The Government of Edo State wishes to observe that the Chairman and
\nMembers of Ad-Hoc Committee of the Senate which visited Edo State were
\nmade of the existence of at least three (3) suits pending before various
\nCourts wherein the factual and legal dispute regarding the Edo State
\nHouse of Assembly inauguration have been submitted to the Courts by both
\ncontending parties for resolution.<\/p>\n
The Ad- Hoc Committee also failed to inform the senate of the existence
\nof a valid injunction in Suit NO FHC\/B\/OS\/70\/2019 wherein the Federal
\nHigh Court restrained various parties from interfering in any manner
\nwith the activities of the Edo State House of Assembly which said order
\nhad been brought to their attention in the course of their visit to Edo
\nState.<\/p>\n
In point of fact in Suit NO, FHC\/PH\/CS\/159\/2019 the National Assembly,
\nthe Clerk of National Assembly, the President of the Senate and Speaker
\nof House of Representatives amongst others were specifically ordered by
\nthe Federal High Court to maintain the Status Quo as at 25th July, 2019.<\/p>\n
The Edo state government is further aware that in suit No.
\nFHC\/ABJ\/CS\/815\/2019, wherein the Clerk and the National Assembly are
\ndefendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the National Assembly
\nand the Clerk have not only been duly served with the processes but have
\nentered appearances in the matter.
\nIt is unfortunate that the Distinguished senate would act in flagrant
\nbreach of these various court orders and purport to come to come to
\nfactual and legal conclusions concerning a matter in which the parties
\nare already before the courts and therefore subjudice.<\/p>\n
We are also concerned that the Members of the Distinguished senate
\nappear to have very scent regards for the principle of separation of
\npowers as enshrined in our constitution which is manifested by their
\ntaking over the functions of the judiciary in dispute resolution and
\ngiving directives to a Government of a state who is certainly not
\nsubject to the supervision of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n
The Edo State Government maintain that there is nowhere in the
\nConstitution particularly Section 11(4) which enables the National
\nAssembly to \u201ctake over\u201d any House of Assembly or in this respect, the
\nEdo State House of Assembly.<\/p>\n
It must be further observed that it has always been the contention of
\nthe Edo state Government that the power to issue a proclamation for the
\nInauguration of a House of Assembly as set out in Section 105(3) of the
\nConstitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was duly and completely
\ncomplied with and it is not within the power of the Governor to recall
\nsame once issued or to perform the same act multiple times. Once the
\nGovernor issues a proclamation letter, his job is done.<\/p>\n
It is the duty of the Clerk of the House of Assembly to inaugurate the
\nHouse of Assembly and he has since performed that task. He has further
\napproached a Court of law to seek a validation of his actions. The
\npronouncements of the Distinguished Senate on the subject (with respect)
\nis clearly misconceived and would amount to interference in the role of
\nthe Courts which may in fact constitute contempt with which the Governor
\nwould not wish to be associated.<\/p>\n
The government of Edo State firmly believes that our State is\u00a0 not a
\ncolony or a vassal of any person or persons exercising power in Abuja
\nand we shall take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to
\ndefend and validate our position and actions on this matter.<\/p>\n
We call on all persons of goodwill to call the powerful wielders of
\n\u2018power and authority\u201d in Abuja and elsewhere to refrain from acts which
\nare clearly unconstitutional, undemocratic and a flagrant disrespect for
\nthe principle of due process and separation of powers.<\/p>\n
These powerful persons should not be allowed to set our state ablaze
\nmerely to satisfy their thirst for power and control.<\/p>\n
As we have always maintained on this subject: THIS ILLEGALITY WILL NOT
\nSTAND!!!<\/p>\n
Osarodion Ogie,Esq.
\nSecretary to the Government of Edo State.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Edo State Government has accused the Senate of actions capable of plunging the state into crisis of a monumental proportion. A statement signed by the Secretary to the Edo…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":68024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n