Edo assembly crisis an embarrassment – Oyegun

The lingering crises in the Edo state of House of Assembly has become an embarrassment to the state and Nigeria’s nascent democracy, according to the former chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The former governor of Edo state, who marked his 80th birthday over the weekend, stated this in Benin when the leadership of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council visited him on the occasion of his birthday celebration.

He particularly said he was pained because the crisis is said to have fuelled by the lingering misunderstanding between the current APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the immediate past governor of the state, and his successor, Godwin Obaseki.

He described the frosty relationship between the governor and Oshiomhole as ‘ridiculous’ saying that as an indigene of the state and former national chairman of the ruling party he was not only shocked but ashamed by the feud.

Chief Oyegun said it was a cause for concern that the impasse had defied all predictions, adding that those dancing around the main actors in crisis were ignorant about how it started.

“All of us are dancing round the crisis, but we do not know how and what started the conflict between the two friends.

“Quite frankly, what is going on is ridiculous. We are beyond this kind. I am ashamed. Our people have contributed so much to the stability of the state@, he said.

On June 17 nine members out of the 25 that constitute the house were inaugurated at about 9pm by the Clerk of the state assembly, a development those not inaugurated have contested.

In the exercise, Frank Okiye (Esan North East 1) who allegedly had the support of Governor Obaseki emerged speaker as against Victor Edoror (Esan Central), who it is alleged is being supported by Oshiomhole.

However, interventions from sundry quarters have not yielded any positive result. One of such was the directive by the Senate that Governor Obaseki such issue a fresh a proclamation for inauguration was countered with a court order directing that the status quo remains.

The senate had threatened to take over the affairs of the house if the governor failed to abide by its directive by the expiration of the ultimatum.

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