Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki has described as ‘unconstitutional’ the directive given by the Senate for a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.
The Senate on Tuesday gave Mr Obaseki one week to issue a fresh proclamation or the National Assembly would not hesitate to take over the functions of Edo Assembly in line with constitutional provisions.
However, in a statement on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, the state government said that “this illegality will not stand”, adding that “powerful persons not be allowed to set our State ablaze merely to satisfy their thirst for power and control.”
The statement said: “The Edo State Government maintains that there is nowhere in the Constitution particularly Section 11(4) which enables the National Assembly to ‘take over’ any House of Assembly or in this respect, the Edo State House of Assembly.”
The SSG added that “It must be further observed that it has always been the contention of the Edo State Government that the power to issue a proclamation for the inauguration of a House of Assembly as set out in Section 105(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was duly and completely complied with and it is not within the power of the Governor to recall same once issued or to perform the same act multiple times. Once the Governor issues a proclamation letter, his job is done.
“We call on all persons of goodwill to call the powerful wielders of ‘power and authority’ in Abuja and elsewhere to refrain from acts which are clearly unconstitutional, undemocratic and a flagrant disrespect for the principle of due process and separation of powers.”
