…says failed invasion is an act of treason
As an attempt by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, allegedly acting on the orders of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over Edo State House of Assembly Complex in Benin failed, Speaker Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, has hailed lovers of democracy who rose to the occasion to foil the attempted invasion on Thursday.
Okiye who spoke in Benin City, called on “democrats the world over to remain vigilant and keep vigil over the happenings in Edo State as anti-democratic forces are on the prowl and set to undermine core democratic values such as the rule of law and the constitution.”
The Speaker also described Thursday morning’s failed invasion of the Edo State House of Assembly Complex by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, acting on the orders of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an act of treason.
“The Edo State House of Assembly condemns any attempt to operate the House of Assembly Complex at Ring Road, currently undergoing renovation as the inaugurated members and the Rt. Hon. Speaker have relocated the House via a letter widely circulated to a new address at Dennis Osadebay Avenue,” the Speaker said.
He stressed that “any attempt to operate the House of Assembly Complex at Ring Road, amounts to an attempt to topple a constituted government which in turn amounts to an act of treason.”
He explained that “Forceful entry into the premises amounts to trespass, being that the House members have suspended activities at the building; their action will amount to disturbance of public peace which is also an offense.”
He warned: “Commission of any of the above will naturally attract the attention of the Police and other law enforcement agencies to act by preventing or arresting those involved.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its former National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had been alleged to have mobilised Federal Police from Abuja to replace the officers from the Edo State Police Command stationed at the Anthony Enahoro complex of the Edo State House of Assembly.
The move, it was gathered, is preparatory to plots to take over the Assembly complex, which is undergoing reconstruction, with a view to illegally inaugurate 14 dissident members-elect, whose seats have long been declared vacant, so as to take control of the Assembly.
Edo government said it was learnt that Comrade Oshiomhole has started mobilising thugs to move to the complex so as to provide cover for the impending planned action to import a fake mace for the members-elect to work in cahoot with the impeached Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye to actualise this plot.A retired Deputy Clerk in the Assembly, Samuel Efezokhae, is said to have been mobilised to administer the oaths to inaugurate the dissident members-elect.
Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, had raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma and stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, to import a fake mace to violently take over the Edo State House of Assembly.
Okiye, who spoke after plenary on Wednesday, in Benin City, said the plot was to be executed in cahoots with the impeached Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yekini Idiaye.
“The dubious plan by the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma and stakeholders of the APC in Edo State to import a fake mace to take over the Edo State House of Assembly working in cahoots with the Deputy Speaker, who recently declared support for the candidate of the APC to congregate in a secret location to illegally and violently take over control of the Assembly has been brought to our notice.”
Warning of the grave consequences such a move portends for democracy in Nigeria, Okiye called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Presidency to urgently call the Imo State Governor and others working with him to execute this illegal plan to desist from their plans and allow the laws of the state to guide them.
“The state’s polity is already heated by the high political tension from the electioneering campaigns. Their planned action is akin to lighting a match in an already tensed political environment, which conflagration is capable of causing crisis in the state, and of a scale beyond our imagination.”
He said, “We call on Edo people whose mandate and interests the state’s legislature holds and protects, to rise against this planned attack and plot to subvert their will and subjugate them using external forces.
“We urge lovers of democracy across the world, institutions that uphold democratic tenets and values, pro-democracy groups, to denounce this planned illegality that seeks to distract a duly constituted authority.”
“We recognise the constitutional right of the three members of the House of Assembly to support the candidate of their choice, but that should not distract them from coming to work to carry out the job they were elected for.
“We are, as always, committed to the protection of the democratic rights of our people as the legislature remains a sacred institution in the democratisation process,” he added. As at press time APC and its former National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole could not be reached for comments. We could also not reach Edo State Police Command and the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria for comments.
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