•It’s political vendetta, illegal – Okogbe, Iyamu, Oberaifo, AAC guber candidate
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, yesterday, suspended three lawmakers over an alleged plot to impeach him and other Principal Officers Council (POC).
The suspended lawmakers are Donald Okogbe (PDP Akoko-Edo11), Bright Iyamu (PDP Orhionmwon South) and Adeh Isibor, ( PDP Esan North East 1).
Agbebaku alleged at the sitting of the Assembly yesterday that the three suspended members were being influenced by external forces to cause chaos and remove the leadership of the House.
He further alleged that some persons brought native doctors into the House at midnight on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, to make some demonic incantations and dropped charms in the Assembly complex.
The suspended lawmakers, while responding to the allegation during the rowdy session, were screaming, “Mr Speaker, you do not have the right to unilaterally suspend any member(s) of the House. You must call for votes. Allow members to vote on the matter.” But, the Speaker ignored them.
Meanwhile, Okogbe and Iyamu have described their suspension as a vendetta that was politically motivated and illegal.
Okogbe noted that the speaker, by the rules of the House and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, did not have the unilateral power to suspend a member.
Okogbe, who said the allegations levelled against them were untrue and unfounded, noted that the action of the speaker was unconstitutional and against the rules of the House.
“The suspension is purely a vendetta that is politically motivated.
“The speaker acted with impunity and has become a tyrant in the red chair and has become one man suppressing the democratic ideals of the House.”
Okogbe, who also denied the allegations of planting charms in the Assembly complex, said he was a devout Catholic and do not involve himself in rituals
“The allegations levelled against me and others are completely untrue and as a Christian, I hold strongly to my Catholic ideals. I do not have a hand in the ritual and I do not do ritual.
“The suspension came to me as a shock but what is more important is that the House rules and the Constitution of the country made it clear that suspension of any member can only be approved if it enjoys the support of the majority of the lawmakers. Our position is that the speaker does not have the sole power to suspend and that is the point we made during plenary.
“Even if that power exists, suspension of a member cannot be from one sitting and not indefinitely. Anything otherwise is illegal. The power to suspend rest on members of the House.”
Okogbe said he was not bothered because he knew that no unjust decision would stand and justice shall prevail.
Iyamu said the suspension was illegal adding that they were still studying the situation. “We are in a meeting, when we are done, we will brief you.’’
The suspension has also elicited the condemnation of the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the September 21 gubernatorial election, Dr. Udoh Oberaifo.
Speaking to newsmen in Benin, Oberaifo described the suspension of the lawmakers as illegal and unconstitutional, saying the Speaker lacked the legal power and right to suspend a lawmaker democratically elected by the people.
“So what will now happen to the lawmaking, representation and the constituents of this suspended members?”, he queried. He stated that the tyranny of the Speaker infringed on the rights of the people, the suspended members and their constituents.
“Our courts have consistently held that disciplinary powers of legislative houses like Edo State House of Assembly do not extend to reckless suspension.
“The court of appeal in Bauchi State House of Assembly & Ors vs Gubaya agreed with the trial court in holding that the suspension of a then House of Assembly member, Hon. Gubaya for three months was illegal.
“Recently, the court also took a similar view in case of Akinribido vs Ondo State House of Assembly.
“The point I wish to state here is that the clear malicious suspension of this members of Edo House of Assembly for whatever reasons by the speaker, is laughable, unjustifiable, illegal and clearly unconstitutional. It clearly shows the directionless lawmaking powers, offside decision making of the PDP led House of Assembly, and lack of respect for democratic institutions.”
Oberaifo, therefore, called for the recall of the suspended members in line with clear court precedents in similar matters, pointing out that the action of the Speaker shows that Edo people can no longer continue with the status quo of the PDP governance and law making in the state. He urged Edo people to reject the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election and vote the candidate of the AAC as a better alternative and for credible governance.