Reps may take over Edo Assembly

Posted by admin Edo, House, Legislature, State News Monday, June 30th, 2014

MEMBERS of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives have warned the factional lawmakers in the state Assembly that the National Assembly could to take over their legislative activities if they fail to resolve the three-weeks old crisis.

In a statement to newsmen in Benin City Sunday, the House of Representatives Minority Leader and leader of the caucus, Samson Osagie, accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the state of “flagrant disobedience of court orders.”

Osagie, on behalf of other APC lawmakers in the National Assembly, said: “As lawmakers, ordinarily, we should not be seen to be interfering in the affairs of the state legislature, especially when the courts have been called to intervene. But it has become imperative in the interest of peace and protection of the institution of the legislature.”

Meanwhile, the suspended Deputy Speaker Assembly, Festus Ebea, insisted at the weekend that he remained the speaker of the 24-member house and would resume plenary today. He spoke shortly after being conferred the Obaisiagbon of Ubiaja at the palace of the Onogie of Ubiaja, His Royal Highness Curtis Aidenogie 1.

Ebea said he was willing to return to his position as deputy speaker but for the “illegal suspension” slammed on him and three others. However, the APC caucus urged law enforcement agents in the state to enforce the court orders in order to bring about peace, law and order.

“We have watched with mixed feelings the needless imbroglio among members of our state House of Assembly, culminating in the invitation of the courts to resolve the logjam,” he said.

“As lawmakers, we all owe the institution a duty not to bring it to disrepute by disobeying the rules of the parliament and all valid orders made by a court of competent jurisdiction when they are called to intervene in any matter involving the actions of the legislature.

“We call on the members of Edo State House of Assembly, especially, those against whom an order has been made, to respect such orders no matter how dissatisfied they are with them and explore more legitimate or legal avenues to appeal or vacate such orders.

“It is trite law that once an order is made by a court it must be obeyed by all concerned until it is set aside by a superior court or vacated by the court that made the order.”
-Guardianwp_posts