Edo assembly crisis: PDP lawmakers hold plenary in roofless chambers

Edo assembly crisis: PDP lawmakers hold plenary in roofless chambers

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday kept faith with their promise to hold plenary inside the roofless chambers of the assembly, while their colleagues in the All Progressives Congress (APC) continued their own plenary at the old assembly chambers inside the Government House in Benin.

The roof covering the assembly chambers was last Friday removed as part of renovation exercise called by the APC lawmakers in the house but the PDP lawmakers described the renovation exercise as a ploy to prevent them from using the assembly on Monday, yesterday.

On Monday, the PDP lawmakers sat at the frontage of the assembly chambers for some minutes before they moved into the roofless assembly chambers, where the impeached deputy presided as speaker.

Amidst the rubble of stone from the removed roofs, the nine PDP lawmakers, including the impeached deputy speaker, Festus Ebea, passed some resolutions during their plenary.

Chief among the resolutions was a call on banks, where the assembly operates an account, to as from yesterday put on hold financial dealings with the assembly.

The assembly also called on the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to furnish the house with details of the receipt of payments made on behalf of the state government to local governments wherein they share a joint account.

Ebea, who later addressed journalists at the secretariat of the PDP in Benin, however, noted that the group was ready to sit with the APC faction at the assembly chambers at the King’s Square in Benin.

He also condemned the ongoing renovation of the assembly chambers, noting that the roofing sheets that were removed were new ones.

The APC lawmakers at their plenary passed a resolution calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to take steps to prevent breakdown of law and order by calling on the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police to stop fueling crisis in the state.

They also called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to take urgent steps to stop the situation being perpetuated by the PDP in the state.

Honourable Adjoto, who moved the motion under matters of urgent public importance, raised the alarm that the PDP planned to unleash the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on lawmakers in the state.

He warned that Nigeria would be unsettled if President Jonathan allowed the state to boil.

Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, said it was appalling that the police have made Nigeria a Banana Republic, adding that President Jonathan was making room for anarchy in the country by failing in his duty of controlling the police.

Deputy Speaker, Victor Edoror, described the situation as an eyesore and a sacrilege.

He said, “The police refused to enforce the suspension of four lawmakers and the court ordered. Police are aiding these people into the assembly. They are breaking the doors. What we are experiencing might make this country go into anarchy. We are calling on Edo people to know that it is an attempt to take this state back to the days of holocaust. The president should hearken to the voice of reasoning.”