Onazena Abbey, Benin
Deputy Majority leader, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun, has described the directive by the Senate to Governor Godwin Obaseki to re-inaugurate the House as ‘anti-people and undemocratic’.
The member, representing Esan West constituency, said the Nigerian Constitution only allows the governor to inaugurate the House of Assembly once at the beginning of legislative life span which was rightly done by Governor Obaseki on June 17, when he proclaim the state’s Assembly.
Onobun, who equally noted that both parties in the crisis were currently before a competent court of jurisdiction, said the National Assembly could only exercise the power to take over the functions of the state Assembly on the grounds that the House was unable to sit to carry out its legislative business.
“Such directives is not expected from a lay man much more a highly esteemed institution like the National Assembly.
“If they want to take over the Assembly, on whose interest? It is against the oath of office for the governor to reissue proclamation letter.
“What the senate has done amounts to passing judgment on matter that has not been heard,’’ he said.
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He equally expressed dismay at the decision of the 12 members-elect to seek refuge outside the state having pledged to the electorate during campaign to complement the efforts of the governor on whose track records of achievements they all won election into the state’s Assembly.
The lawmaker, therefore, urged the members-elect to present themselves for proper procedure for inauguration and get started with the legislative business they were elected to carry out by their constituents.
“I look forward for a robust engagement. We all have something to gain from each other, lets come together as family, look for political solution, sit on round table. You don’t fight from outside,’’ he noted.
On whether the Assembly, as presently constituted, would shift grounds on the speaker’s position as condition for settlement, Onobun said: “The seat of the speaker is not under contention. You don’t determine who becomes Speaker from outside.
“They are still members-elect, not yet inaugurated even if they do there are constitutional procedures to that effect.”
