Wednesday, 12th August, 2020, the members of the Edo State House of Assembly(EDHA), sat to deliberate amongst other things on the continuous vandalization of the structures and premises by hoodlums, apparently under the instruction of the current Governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Also, a five man committee was set up to investigate three petitions, with a time frame of two weeks to submit their report.
Addressing the issue of the irresponsible vandalization of the structures and premises of the state House of Assembly, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, said: “We have been inundated and duly informed that Edo State Government, under the guise of unsolicited renovation, is presently destroying the House of Assembly building housing the hallowed chamber, removing the roof of the building and demolishing part of the walls, just to make it impossible for legislative business to hold there.”
Continuing the Speaker, said; the state government, under the leadership and supervision of the Governor of the state, and his Deputy, injected hoodlums into the House of Assembly complex, and the hoodlums has made the complex a safe haven for smoking Indian help and defecation thereby messing up the hallowed chambers, adding that, the hoodlums have carted away several valuables belonging to the House. The Speaker therefore urged the state government to henceforth desist from such unwholesome and infamous act.
In view of the foregoing, the Speaker directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIGP, Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP, Director of the Directorate of State Security Services, DSS, and the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to evacuate the hoodlums before they turn the state into a lawless state.
Also during the sitting, the Speaker of the House set up a five man committee to look into three petitions, including the one titled: Re: Purported removal of Hon. Aremiayau A. Momoh as Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council.A clear case of Political victimisation, abuse of power, injustice of mountainous proportion, with denigration of the rule of law by His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State.
The two other petitions that bothered on the purported removal of Hon. Patrick Aguinede as the Chairman, Esan West Local Government Council, and Hon. Yakubu Musa as Etsako West Local Government Chairman, were also read by the Clerk of the House. All the petitions, written by West Idahosa and co, Legal Practitioners, Solicitors and Notary Public, are signed by Famous Osawaru Esq.
Consequently, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, set up a five man committee, chaired by Hon. Washington Osa Osifo representing Uhumwode constituency, while members include; Hon. Eric Okaka, who represent Owan East, Hon. Nosayaba Okunbor, who represents Orhionmwon East, Hon. Dumez Ugiagbe representing Ovia North East 1, to look into the three petitions and submit report in two weeks.
The motion for adjournment of the sitting, to Tuesday, 18th August, 2020, was moved by Hon. Chris Okaeben representing Oredo West constituency, while Hon. Dumez Ugiagbe representing Ovia North East 1, seconded the motion. Thereafter, the sitting was adjourned to Tuesday, 18th August 2020, by 10:00am.
