Odigie-Oyegun greets new Edo speaker, others, commends Obaseki

• State govt chides protesting legislators

TRACKING >>Immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday congratulated newly elected Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye and his deputy, Yekini Idiaye on their election.

Odigie-Oyegun, in a statement issued by Chief Ray Morphy, stated that with the inauguration and election of a Speaker, the Assembly was poised to render services to the state

Besides, the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by its Chairman, Anselm Ojezua, felicitated with the newly inaugurated Seventh Assembly.

He added that the leadership of the state APC supports of the emergence of the new leaders, noting that the party is confident that the House would uphold the ideals of the APC while discharging their legislative duties.

Also, the Obaseki Volunteer Network (OVN) in a statement issued by its leader, Solomon Okoduwa, commended members of the House for electing Okiye and Idiaye, as leaders of the newly inaugurated Seventh Assembly.

“From Okiye’s antecedents as a member of the house and political appointee, he distinguished himself. He is a trusted and capable of piloting the affairs the house.

“We don’t expect less from him. With him at the helm of affairs of the House of Assembly, we foresee robust legislative activities and oversight functions from the legislators,” Okoduwa stated.

Okoduwa added that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration was committed to the welfare of the people, saying only a people-oriented Assembly will complement the purposeful leadership of the governor.

Meanwhile, as the crisis rocking the House of Assembly continues, 16 lawmakers have insisted that they were not invited to the inauguration ceremony, where the Speaker and other principal officers emerged.

Addressing journalists yesterday, spokesman of the lawmakers-elect, Washinton Osifo, said they would have been present at the inauguration if they were invited.

But reacting to the claims by the group, Ojezua, while congratulating the lawmakers, said the action of some members-elect was a betrayal of trust reposed on them by Edo people when by electing an APC-controlled House.

Also responding to the development, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, said the state government would deploy all state apparatuses to ensure that peace reigned in the state.

Ohonbamu, who noted the era of civil strife was over in the state, said the Governor Obaseki-led administration would not tolerate any form of violence across the state.