Senate’s Resolution on EDHA crisis: No retreat, no surrender- Edo government vows

ABIODUN JIMOH, BENIN CITY

Aftermath of the Nigeria Senate resolution ordering Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation letter within seven days over the state House of Assembly crisis, uneasy calm has enveloped the entire government house, Benin City.

This ultimatum by the Senate concurred with the earlier decision taken by the House of Representatives urging the state governor to do the needful for proper inauguration of the 7th EDHA, thus put the crisis unto rest.

However, in swift reaction, the state government in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., vowed to resist any attempt by the NASS to hijack the Assembly.

The SSG noted that the state is not a colony or a vassal of any person or persons exercising power in Abuja, adding that the government would take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to defend and validate its position and actions on this matter.

The state government described as unconstitutional and a flagrant disregard for the Principle of Separation of Powers, the resolution of the Senate directing the governor to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the state assembly.

“This illegality will not stand, and we advised powerful persons not be allowed to set our state ablaze merely to satisfy their thirst for power and control.”

“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 recorded 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.”

Ogie noted that “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.

He maintained that: “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.

“The Edo State Government is further aware that in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/815/2019, wherein the Clerk and the National Assembly are defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the National Assembly and the Clerk have not only been duly served with the processes but have entered appearance in the matter.

“It is unfortunate that the Distinguished Senate would act in flagrant breach of these various Court Orders and purport to come to factual and legal conclusions concerning a matter in which the parties are already before the Courts and therefore subjudice.

“We are also concerned that the Members of the Distinguished Senate appear to have very scant regard for the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution which is manifested by their taking over the functions of the Judiciary in dispute resolution and giving directives to a Governor of a State who is certainly not subject to the supervision of the National Assembly.

“The Edo State Government maintains that there is nowhere in the Constitution particularly Section 11(4) which enables the National Assembly to “take over” any House of Assembly or in this respect, the Edo State House of Assembly.”

“It is the duty of the Clerk of the House of Assembly to inaugurate the House of Assembly and he has since performed that task. He has further approached a Court of law to seek a validation of his actions.

“These powerful persons should not be allowed to set our State ablaze merely to satisfy their thirst for power and control. As we have always maintained on this subject: – This illegality will not stand!!!”