Edo Assembly impeaches speaker, elects 4th in 2 years

The lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo I, Hon Kabiru Adjoto, on Monday emerged the 4th speaker of the Edo State House of assembly in the current political dispensation.

He replaced Hon Justin Okonoboh, who was removed Monday morning after a vote of no confidence was passed on his leadership by 16 out of the 24 lawmakers.

Former speaker, Hon Victor Edoror (Esan Central), who was impeached in 2016 emerged deputy speaker, replacing Hon Elizabeth Ativie (Uhumwonde).

Hon Edoror was elected speaker when the Assembly was inaugurated in June, 2015, but was impeached and Hon Ativie elected in his place.

Hon Okonoboh emerged speaker in 2016 after Hon Ativie stepped down over political imbalance in the sharing of political offices among the three senatorial districts over the state.

In an address shortly after his election as speaker, Hon Adjoto announced the setting up of a three-man committee to investigate the tenure of Hon Okonoboh.

There was, however, a mild drama in the Assembly before Hon Okonoboh was impeached as the former speaker had arrived the Assembly to preside over plenary as he apparently was unaware of the plot to remove him.

He started by calling for the business of the day, but Hon Emmanuel Agbaje  (Akoko-Edo II) stood up and started reading the impeachment notice of the speaker.

The former speaker attempted to overrule Agbaje, but he was overpowered by other lawmakers, who bundled him out of the speaker’s seat.

At this point, Hon Magnus Igbas (Esan North East I) attempted to stop the unfolding drama, but he was overpowered by about four lawmakers including Hon Sylvanus Eruaga  (Etsako Central II).

With Okonoboh and Igbas out of the way, the lawmakers elected Eruaga protem speaker to supervise the election of Adjoto and Edoror as speaker and deputy speaker.

In his remark, the new speaker described his predecessor as “weak but terribly dangerous,” adding that looking at Okonoboh one would be tempted to think that he would be able to perform as a medical doctor.

He also announced the suspebsion of thr erstwhile speaker and his deputy for a period of three months to give room for proper investigation into their activities.

He also announced the freezing of the account of the Assembly.

Adjoto among others accused Okonoboh of making his wife the 24th member of the Assembly, stating that “the wife has suddenly turned herself to the 25th member of the Edo Stage House of Assembly.”

He said, “We are 24 members but we were surprised that anything we discussed at the executive session, the wife will hear and start calling our wives to tell them what we discussed and they should tell their husbands not to do it.

“The wife uses the Speaker vehicle and convoy as if she is Mr Speaker. The other day the wife and his son used the convoy to the NYSC camp. That is desecration of the parliament.

“Mr Speaker is not supposed to be a contractor but we discovered that he awarded contracts without due process.

“He just came back from America, where he said he visited eight states, whereas he shut down the Assembly.

“We were not supposed to go for holiday but he shut the House because of his son’s graduation. He stopped us from working for Edo people.

“Within the ten weeks, we have not been sitting. The governor is working and it is our duty as a parliament to support him.

“16 of us initially signed the impeachment notice. What we need is two third which are 16 members. After we finished, we are now 19, more than the two third requirements.

“We need to set a standard for the House. The precedent Okonoboh met, he destroyed it. He is not doing anything to set new things.”