The Edo State Governor has insisted that he will ignore the Senate and will not issue another proclamation for the opening session of the Edo State House of Assembly.
The governor’s position was revealed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie who noted that the Senate was playing out the script of some influential people who are bent on destabilizing the State. He noted that the Governor has already issued a proclamation as required by law and he would not be repeating the process .
His statement read ” Edo State Government has watched with alarm today as the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a step that was not totally unexpected, purported to pass a resolution in the following terms: –
Directing the Governor of Edo State to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Ordering a fresh inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly within one (1) week from the date of the said Resolution.
As earlier mentioned, this move was not unexpected in the light of the enormous political pressure which had been brought to bear on the Officers and Members of the distinguished Senate by the highly placed and powerful persons who are intent on foisting their will and choices on the good people of Edo State.
This is borne out by the record statements made by one Seid Oshiomhole (a Member-elect and younger brother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Comrade Adams Oshiomhole) wherein he boasted that both the Senate President Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have been instructed on what to do in this matter.
The Government of Edo State wishes to observe that the Chairman and Members of Ad-Hoc Committee of the Senate which visited Edo State were made of the existence of at least three (3) suits pending before various Courts wherein the factual and legal dispute regarding the Edo State House of Assembly inauguration have been submitted to the Courts by both contending parties for resolution.
The Ad- Hoc Committee also failed to inform the senate of the existence of a valid injunction in Suit NO FHC/B/OS/70/2019 wherein the Federal High Court restrained various parties from interfering in any manner with the activities of the Edo State House of Assembly which said order had been brought to their attention in the course of their visit to Edo State.
In point of fact in Suit NO, FHC/PH/CS/159/2019 the National Assembly, the Clerk of National Assembly, the President of the Senate and Speaker of House of Representatives amongst others were specifically ordered by the Federal High Court to maintain the Status Quo as at 25th July, 2019.
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