By Erabor Mark Odion
BENIN-CITY/Nigeria: The factional seventeen lawmakers of Edo State House of Assembly who are claiming to be the authentic Assembly met Tuesday, July 18, to hold plenary for the first time since twenty six months after their counterpart started.
The meeting which is the second after the seventeen members elected their Speaker two weeks ago was held amidst tight security where they alleged that there are plots to attack them and later inaugurated seventeen committees which it said was needed for the smooth running of the state.
Also, the House received two petitions over alleged withdrawal of salaries and entitlements of elected councillors in the 18 local government areas over their refusal to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The House also received petition on the removal from office of the vice chairman of Owan East Local Government which it consequently referred to the House committee to investigate and report in two weeks.
At their resumed sitting, which was held after the members held an executive session, the lawmakers condemned the continued siege on the House of Assembly complex by people they described as hoodlums, a development they said has propelled them to be meeting in a rented hall.
The factional Speaker, Rt. Hon Victor Edoror set up seventeen committees which he said would help in smooth running of the House.
The member representing Uhunmwonde constituency, Hon Washington Osifo alleged that there are plots to attack the members and inflict body injuries one them.
“Mr. Speaker, similar information got to us on June 18 last year and we ignored it because we thought these were our party members and they cannot harm us, but few hours after, we were attacked by thugs led by the CSO to the governor.
“The information available to us Mr. Speaker, is that these same people are planning to again attack us and we must not take this for granted again,” he said.
The Speaker, in his reaction condemned the plot saying that “democracy is a game of numbers and we have absolute majority. We call on our colleagues to trace their steps back and join us”
Edoror also said the Clerk of the House who he alleged has been aiding seven lawmakers to meet has been suspended and would be investigated.
They House adjourned sitting to Tuesday, August 25th.
