Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State governor, has on Friday, July 12, 2019, vowed that there would be no going back on the crusade against godfathers in the state.
The governor noted that fight against godfathers in the state was the path that his predecessor and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, taught him and others and there would be no going back on it.
He alleged that the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly was the handiwork of somebody who wanted to use the lawmakers to control him.
Obaseki, who spoke through his deputy, Philip Shaibu, said the 7th Edo State House of Assembly followed due process for the inauguration.
Speaking in Benin City when the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to look into the Edo State House of Assembly crisis visited the state, Obaseki said the other lawmakers-elect decided to remain in Abuja and make themselves unavailable for inauguration.
The governor said the current crisis was history repeating itself as 15 Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers also cried to the National Assembly in 2010 for a possible take over.
He said he was following the path Oshiomhole taught them to fight godfathers and use the money to work for the people.
Obaseki, who insisted that there was no going back on the crusade against godfathers, said some demands of the lawmakers-elect could only be resolved if they were sworn-in.
According to him: “What we have here is somebody trying to use the House to control the executive.
“We feel that we have fought godfather.
“Oshiomhole led us to a strong fight to rescue the state from the hands of godfathers in 2006.
“We have joined the crusade Oshiomhole started in 2007.
“We will not go back on the crusade because it is helping Edo people.
“We can now galvanise the people because they can see roads, they can see schools and infrastructure.
“This is because the money that used to go the godfathers now go to the people.
“Oshiomhole has taught us to follow the path of the people.
“He told us to do the needful and make sure we fight the godfathers and take the money back to the people.
“That is what he taught us and we will not depart from it.
“Those ones have not been sworn in and they decided to abscond.
“I have contacted them and some of them told me certain things.
“I said we will deal with them.
“I said they must be members of the Assembly first before the discussion will take place.
”Somebody is interested in derailing them and the reality on ground.
“They are not elected to serve in Abuja.
“They should come to be sworn in first.
“I can assure you that I will bridge the gap between the governor and the legislature.
“We need peace because we want to turn Edo to investment hub.”
At the House of Assembly where the committee met with the Speaker, Frank Okiye, and other lawmakers, the Clerk of the Assembly, Alhaji Yayaha Audu Omogbai, said 11 lawmakers-elect had not presented relevant documents.
Omogbai said the inauguration took place at 3:30pm and not 9pm as alleged.
The Assembly clerk said he decided to carry out the inauguration because of the tension in the state.
He said it was nine members that presented themselves for swearing in despite the fact that he sent messages to 13 of them that were ready.
Abdulrazak Namdas, the Chairman of the Committee, said there was hope that the issues would be resolved.
Namdas said: “We have spoken to relevant people involved in this crisis and all of them are willing and have given us their support.
“They are willing to sit down and say these things should come to an end.”
Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, informed the committee that he intervened in the feud between Oshiomhole and Obaseki but the crisis escalated.
Oba Ewuare II spoke when he received members of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to look into the Edo State House of Assembly crisis.
Read more at The Nation
