Edo traditional rulers reject calls for Speaker position to return to Edo Central. Abiodun jimoh

Clarion calls by traditional rulers in Edo North and Central to return the position of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly to Edo Central Senatorial district has been rejected by their counterpart from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

It could be recalled that the former Speaker Justice Okonoboh, representing Igueben Constituency from central district was last month impeached by the House of Assembly and elected Hon Adjoto Kabir representing Akoko-Edo 1 from Edo North as Speaker.

Earlier on, 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.

Similarly, the Edo North and  Central Senatoral Districts traditional rulers in August met at Palace of the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh and urged members of the House to return the Speaker to the Central to ensure fairness and balance political equation of the state.

The chairman of Akoko-Edo traditional council, Eshimokhai Idogu 111,  the Olokpe of Okpe who spoke for others,said the election of Adjoto as Speaker has break the jinx as nobody from the area has neither been appointed speaker nor deputy speaker from the defunct Mid-west region to now Edo Sate.

” This visit is to express gratitude to the Assembly who deem it fit to elect our son as speaker. Even during the defunct Midwest region, Bendel state and now Edo state, we have never gotten speaker position. We assured you that we are behind the Speaker and the entire House,” he said.

He said, “we are traditional rulers from Akoko-Edo, the local government of the speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, Adjoto Kabiru. We are here for solidarity visit and to say that all the people of Akoko-Edo local government area are solidly behind him,”

“We want to put on record that the Akoko-Edo traditional  does not recognised the so called Edo North traditional council. There is no law establishing Edo North traditional council. Each council is autonomous and whatever might have transpired in any palace or council we are not part of it. The resolutions at the palace of Otaru of Auchi was null, void and unconstitutional and not bidding on us,” he said.

According to him, they were invited to the meeting that took place at the palace of Otaru of Auchi but did not attend as they are autonomous and not subject to any traditional ruler.

Responding , the House Speaker Adjoto Kabir, assured the royal fathers that the leadership of the House has resolved to support governor Godwin Obaseki in the development of the state.

According to him, the interest of the state is more desirable to the lawmakers and has resolved  that the relationship between the Assembly and executive would be that of cooperation and not confrontation