Benin, Edo State, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus of the Edo State House of Assembly, led by its Speaker, Honorable Festus Ebea, resumed a new legislative business calendar on Monday September 8, 2014 in a waterlogged and decaying assembly chamber.
The deplorable condition of the assembly complex followed the removal of the roof of its legislative chamber for renovation by the leadership of the APC legislators in the heat of the crisis generated by the defection of some legislators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the Assembly to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 general elections.
At the resumption of duties by the PDP caucus, not only was the entrance to the chamber waterlogged but a heap of sand on it also added to the mess.
The situation inside the Assembly chamber was not different as the woodworks of its sitting gallery for the legislators indicated they had been exposed to both rain and sun due to the abandonment of the renovation exercise.
Upstairs at the public gallery the situation was even worse as several weeks of torrential rainfall had culminated in not only damage to the seats, but also a collection of stagnant pool of water now turning green provided good breeding source for mosquitoes.
There the water had turned the ceiling materials into wide spread soft and marshy substance on the floor of the Assembly chamber while cobweb was observed everywhere.
Tell tale signs of algae were everywhere inside the chamber as the Edo PDP legislators could be seen directing cleaning activities in order for legislative business to commence.
The Speaker of the PDP caucus of the Assembly, Honourable Festus Ebea, while reacting to the level of damage to the facility told Alltimepost.com that in order to salvage it from total destruction they decided to levy themselves to rehabilitate the complex.
‘’We have been fighting to keep this place open because this is our office. This is the place we carry out legislative business for the interest of the people of Edo State. So we members of the PDP caucus of the Edo Assembly took it upon ourselves to levy one another to make sure the place is put right and into good use.’’
Honourable Ebea wondered why the government found it easy to pull down the roof of the chamber but did not find it expedient to put the roof back quickly, given the fact that this is raining season.
“When we came back from the recess we discovered that this place was fully waterlogged. This was because the Governor, Adams Oshiomhole did not give a hoot or care about this place. After pulling this place down why did he not deem it fit to put it back?’’
“The Governor thought that when we come back and we meet the pool of water and other mess in the Assembly chamber we will not be able to do anything but as you can see effort has been made to clean up the place and replace the removed roof.”
Attempts to speak to the Assembly Committee chairman on Information, Honourable (Alhaji) Adjoto Kabiru by telephone and text message have however proved unsuccessful as he did not pick the several calls or reply the text message.
Alltimepost.com correspondent also made efforts to reach the APC caucus Speaker, Honorable Uyigue Igbe through his Press Secretary, Mr. Ayeni, but also met a brick wall as the spokesman not only directed him back to Honorable Adjoto, but went on to say the Speaker was unavailable.
“If that is what you want the Speaker for then you should contact Honourable Adjoto Kabiru. The Honourable is in a better position to speak to you concerning your enquiry as the Committee chairman on Information of the Assembly,’’ he said.
Since the crisis that engulfed the Edo Assembly began on June 9, 2014 members of the House have been split along political party lines, with the PDP caucus members holding their sessions under tight security in the Assembly Complex.
On the other hand, the APC caucus members of the Assembly have been holding their sessions inside the Edo State Government House with only a select group of Journalists allowed to enter and witness proceedings there.
