Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku, has assured the people of the state that the legislative arm of the state government is working towards the betterment of their living standard.
He gave the assurance while receiving members of a socio-cultural group, Edo National Voice (ENV), who had staged a protest at the gate of the State House of Assembly Complex situated along Ring Road in Benin City.
Earlier, the leader of protesters, Comrade Osaro Iyamu(aka Culture) had told the Speaker that the petition is “on the unlawful seizure of Benin Traditional Council (BTC) statutory allocations by Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration.”
Going further, the ENV stated that “as the voice and defendants of our rich culture, custom, tradition, and heritage, we write to formally bring to your attention the deliberate withholding of Benin Traditional Council statutory allocations by Governor Godwin Obaseki which is spanning over five months.
“Sir, the deliberate withholding of Benin Traditional Council statutory allocations by Governor Godwin Obaseki is not unconnected with his inability to take custody of our returned stolen artefacts which right of ownership was vested on the great Oba of Benin Kingdom by Federal Government in March 28th, 2023.
“Sir, having been unable to take custody of our returned stolen artefacts, Governor Godwin Obaseki felt that the only way to get back at our revered throne is to withheld Benin Traditional Council statutory allocations.
“It is important to state that the five months statutory allocations in contention is a constitutional obligation of Federal Government which is always a component of the Local Government Council statutory allocations for onward disbursement to traditional rulers across the country and it is unconstitutional for any government, whether federal, state or local government, to withhold it.
“Infact, such unlawful act is a violation of the constitution, breach of code of conduct for public officers and outrightly unconstitutional.
“Therefore, judging from the aforementioned, we hereby appeal to the leadership and members of Edo State House of Assembly to call Governor Godwin Obaseki to order while urging him to immediately release the five months Benin Traditional Council statutory allocations that he deliberately withheld.”
Hon. Agbebaku promised the protesters that their petition would be looked into and would be resolved accordingly.
