Edo State: Obaseki Is Violating The Constitution – Oshiomhole

The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has taken a swipe at Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo state over current disagreements in the state House of Assembly.

He urged the Governor to follow the footsteps of President Muhammadu Buhari and respect constitutional provisions in the discharge of his duty.

Oshiomhole made his submission while speaking with state house correspondents during the weekend on the inauguration of nine members of the Edo house of assembly.

Specifically, Oshiomhole didn’t mention Obaseki’s name but it is widely understood that he was referring to the Governor in his statements.

Naija News recalls the Edo state house of assembly is currently divided along two factions with either faction believed to be loyal to Obaseki and Oshiomhole.

In his reaction to the political situation in the state, Oshiomhole said:

“How can I be a governor physically presiding over people who are more endowed than me? But with the law on my side, people take a bow because the law protects me,” he said.

“So it’s about rule of law. You know the law provides for how the house should be proclaimed transparently the day it’s announced. Members-elect are informed of date and time for inauguration. These are clearly spelt out in the Nigerian constitution.

“President Buhari did it transparently. He has led us by example. For me, it’s very embarrassing if any state governor, particularly of APC extraction, will do anything that is less than what the constitution says and the example that our president has set.

“So, you know that what happened in Edo was that they did not publicize a proclamation letter; the members were not informed, they did the inauguration at 9:30pm in what in a Supreme Court judgement call nocturnal hours.

“Business of parliament is done transparently; they are not secret cult. Now, you have a 24-member House: 19 members protested. You have six and you carry people in their short knickers. Even in the House they have rules, the dress code. So, it happened in Edo, it has happened in Bauchi.”

Oshiomhole also responded to claims by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun that he was distracting the incumbent governor by trying to play the godfather in Edo politics.

“I am a democrat. That I accept the credit, not only that I fought godfatherism, I launched the one man, one vote campaign to fight against election rigging anywhere in Nigeria and by the special grace of God under PDP with Anenih alive, and at his best, I won all the 18 local government areas and I won 95 percent of the total votes cast in my second term election,” he said.

“So, Edo people know me and I know them. I don’t need shortcut to sustain my position in the system. But you know that there is nobody in Nigeria who is not open to accusations. The important thing is that he who accuses should give you evidence.”