The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Philip Shuaibu, has said that there is no political solution to the Assembly House of Assembly impasse involving 14 members who are yet to be inaugurated.
Shuaibu said that the Judiciary should be relied upon to provide the needed solution to the crisis.
The 14 members-elect of the State House of Assembly, did not present themselves for inauguration on June 17,2019, when Governor Godwin Obaseki issued the proclamation for the inauguration of the Assembly.
Shaibu spoke in Benin on Sunday at the maiden meeting of the Edo State House of Assembly Former Members Forum, on Sunday in Benin City.
The Edo State House of Assembly Former Members Forum,, which was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on February 11, 2022, has Matthew Egbadon as Chairman, and Fred Omoigberai, Paschal Ugbome, Samson Osabie, Peter Ekhator and Uyi Igbe as members.
Shuaibu explained that the Governor has no constitutional powers to repeat the proclamation requiring the lawmakers to present for inauguration.
He noted that it had become too late for the Forum to seek political solution to the lingering impasse as only the judiciary is empowered by law to solve the issue.
The Deputy Governor recalled that the
14 out of the 24-member House rejected the call to be inaugurated due to a wrong counsel by the immediate past governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, until their seats were declared vacant.
Shuaibu argued that the crisis was not initiated by Governor Obaseki.
“The major issue here is that of godfathers. We relocated the house to the Government House when Comrade Oshiomhole was to be impeached. Nine of us did that. Some people then boycotted the house for 181 days and Oshiomhole told us that he prayed for them not to come back. So when this problem also started in 2019, we too prayed that they should not come back. The man who benefited during one time is now at the receiving end”,Shaibu, who was once a Majority Leader of the assembly said.
“I was with Oshiomhole when he said no to godfathers, I was actively involved and when he turned around to play the role of a godfather, what he preached against, I am also actively involved. Oshiomhole said he was the governor and nobody can instruct him father outside. This time now, he wants to instruct and wants me to join him so that I will be the sole beneficiary and I said no. If tomorrow, Governor Obaseki turns around to instruct a sitting governor from the outside, I will also go against him”.
