By Osahon Osahon
Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki says he cannot issue fresh proclamation for the crisis reddened Edo House of Assembly as a result of subsisting court order restraining him from undertaking such action pending the determination of the case.
He said he would not allowed himself to be lure him into disobeying the order of the court in a case filed by Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye and member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency, Hon. Henry Okuarobo, before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Obaseki was responding to a statement issued by Hon. Peter Akpatason allegedly on behalf of Edo Caucus in the National Assembly urging the Edo governor to issue a fresh proclamation letter for the Edo Assembly for proper inauguration.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, the governor said he had reached out to some members of the caucus but has declined giving their blessings to the alleged statement or attended the meeting where the statement was endorsed.
According to him, Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North Senatorial District), Hon. Dennis Idahosa (Ovia Federal Constituency) and Hon. Patrick Aisowerien (Orhionmwon Federal Constituency) whom he had contacted denounced the call for fresh proclamation.
“We believe the said statement is a product from the stables of the media aides of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who are hell-bent on spewing falsehoods and propagating alternative facts to hoodwink the public. The statement should therefore be disregarded in its entirety.
“As regards the issuance of a fresh proclamation, we want to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the judgement by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on the case with Suit Number FHC/PH/CS/159/2019, filed by the Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye and member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency, Hon. Henry Okuarobo, on the issue of the issuance of a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly.
“The court had ruled that: “The Plaintiffs/Applicants are granted an order of interim injunction restraining the 6th Defendant/Respondent (the Governor of Edo State) from issuing any fresh proclamation for the holding of another first session for the Edo State House of Assembly pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit”.
“With the judgement, the issue of issuance of a fresh proclamation was laid to rest, giving impetus for the genuinely inaugurated 7th Assembly in Edo State to continue proceedings as a legally-constituted legislative arm of government in Edo State.
“Requests for the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation letter is tantamount to asking the governor to disobey the court order,” the statement said.
