Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has said that the current crisis rocking the state legislature was a smokescreen by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to deny Governor Godwin Obaseki a second term.
Speaking to journalists recently on the crisis rocking the state legislature, Mr Okiye said the planned takeover of the state assembly by the Senate is capable of destabilising Edo State, adding that senators should act as agents of peace and not merchants of crisis.
“The truth is that the Edo State Assembly and my office as the speaker are not the real targets of this crisis. The plot is actually aimed at Governor Obaseki and the endpoint is to stop him from getting a return ticket as governor next year.
“Comrade Oshiomhole is actually after Obaseki. The state assembly was only a smokescreen to his plans. The idea now is to take over the house, destabilise the state and possibly impeach the governor. The Edo Peoples Movement that originated this crisis has boasted that they will ensure that the governor does not come back for the second tenure,” Okiye said.
Noting that the threat of takeover from the National Assembly was part of the grand plot of Oshiomhole, who was the immediate past governor of the state, Okiye said: “I have said it before on several occasions that we know who is beating the drum for them in the National Assembly. They have found themselves in the position of stooge to make it look like they cannot think outside the box, it’s unfortunate.”
Urging his aggrieved colleagues to come over to the assembly and regularise their documents as lawmaker elect, the speaker said plenary activities are in full swing as lawmakers are considering bills, screening commissioners and aides and other legislative activities.
