Edo State House of Assembly
crises escalated yesterday when the All Progressives Congress faction of the
Assembly were stopped from crippling the Assembly by removing its roofing
sheets and plenary effects consisting of documents, mace, chairs and other
materials that makes the House effective.
Pandemonium broke out as early as 12 pm when armed policemen stopped workers who wanted to remove the roofing sheets of the main building where plenary holds in the complex. The roof removal, according to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Uyi Igbe, was part of renovation of the Assembly.
The policemen however, could not stop the total removal as some parts of the chambers section had been removed before they arrived.
But they were able to arrest some persons who had secretly tried to remove chairs, mace, files, documents and other effects that make up the Assembly later yesterday, and has cordoned off the complex.
Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Festus Ebea, who spoke with journalists said that the attempt to cripple the Assembly was a guise for the APC lawmakers to continue plenary at the Government House, and described the act as excessive brigandage: "The roof they are removing was done last year and we don't have it in our budget for 2014. I am the chairman of the tender board, nobody ever reached me that we were doing renovation work.
"You must know that this is brigandage, outright burglary and waste of taxpayers money. We are calling on every citizen of Edo State to know that all these things are being done to prevent us from having a sitting on Monday.
"We were on vacation two to three weeks before we came back on the 9th (June) when the precipitated crisis but no repair was done during that time. Very soon, we will be going on break again, why don't you wait till that time; why now? These are the issues.
"You must ask them where they where they got the money they are using now from because we know it is not there personal money. Where are calling on whoever Oshiomhole and Uyi Igbe awarded the contract to fix this place. This is not the wishes of Edo people and we condemn it."
On his part, Hon Uyi Igbe, who said a policeman directed a gun at him accused the police of supporting the PDP.
"It is very clear that the police are working for the PDP. The PDP lawmakers were called here by the police. It was a phone call from the police that brought them here. They want to forcibly gain entrance into one of the rooms.
"We are telling them it is not possible for them to come in here and attempt to sit. We will rise against it and defend ourselves without our security. Our blood will spill on this matter because we know we are right. They have threatened to kill me and Monday will be the right time, he stated.
Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, while reacting to the allegations that he was siding the PDP, said he moved his men to the scene following reports he got that some thugs were mobilizing to destroy the building.
On Wednesday, the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) numbering 15 had dropped the hint that the assembly was undergoing renovation and that they would henceforth use the exco Chambers of the government house until the completion of the Assembly. However, the plenary that held at the Government House was behind closed doors.
The development might not be unconnected with the PDP's faction's condemnation of the plenary at Government House. Hon Ebea, who spoke with Daily Newswatch, had stated that he remains the rightful speaker, and would supervise a plenary on Monday, 7th July, at the Assembly Complex.
Pandemonium broke out as early as 12 pm when armed policemen stopped workers who wanted to remove the roofing sheets of the main building where plenary holds in the complex. The roof removal, according to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Uyi Igbe, was part of renovation of the Assembly.
The policemen however, could not stop the total removal as some parts of the chambers section had been removed before they arrived.
But they were able to arrest some persons who had secretly tried to remove chairs, mace, files, documents and other effects that make up the Assembly later yesterday, and has cordoned off the complex.
Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Festus Ebea, who spoke with journalists said that the attempt to cripple the Assembly was a guise for the APC lawmakers to continue plenary at the Government House, and described the act as excessive brigandage: "The roof they are removing was done last year and we don't have it in our budget for 2014. I am the chairman of the tender board, nobody ever reached me that we were doing renovation work.
"You must know that this is brigandage, outright burglary and waste of taxpayers money. We are calling on every citizen of Edo State to know that all these things are being done to prevent us from having a sitting on Monday.
"We were on vacation two to three weeks before we came back on the 9th (June) when the precipitated crisis but no repair was done during that time. Very soon, we will be going on break again, why don't you wait till that time; why now? These are the issues.
"You must ask them where they where they got the money they are using now from because we know it is not there personal money. Where are calling on whoever Oshiomhole and Uyi Igbe awarded the contract to fix this place. This is not the wishes of Edo people and we condemn it."
On his part, Hon Uyi Igbe, who said a policeman directed a gun at him accused the police of supporting the PDP.
"It is very clear that the police are working for the PDP. The PDP lawmakers were called here by the police. It was a phone call from the police that brought them here. They want to forcibly gain entrance into one of the rooms.
"We are telling them it is not possible for them to come in here and attempt to sit. We will rise against it and defend ourselves without our security. Our blood will spill on this matter because we know we are right. They have threatened to kill me and Monday will be the right time, he stated.
Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, while reacting to the allegations that he was siding the PDP, said he moved his men to the scene following reports he got that some thugs were mobilizing to destroy the building.
On Wednesday, the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) numbering 15 had dropped the hint that the assembly was undergoing renovation and that they would henceforth use the exco Chambers of the government house until the completion of the Assembly. However, the plenary that held at the Government House was behind closed doors.
The development might not be unconnected with the PDP's faction's condemnation of the plenary at Government House. Hon Ebea, who spoke with Daily Newswatch, had stated that he remains the rightful speaker, and would supervise a plenary on Monday, 7th July, at the Assembly Complex.
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