Oshiomhole, Uzodinma fail to take over Edo Assembly as Obaseki, Shaibu keep guard against allegedly planned invasion

In what has been described as failed attempt by Adams Oshiomhole loyalists backed by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to take over the control of Edo State House of Assembly with alleged use of security agents from Abuja, the Governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, have put their feet on the ground vowing to use all powers of state to ensure it does not happen.

In his own statement on Thursday, Governor Obaseki said that the state would resist any attempt by anybody to forcefully take over the state House of Assembly.

Addressing journalists at the Assembly Complex in Benin, Governor Obaseki said he would do everything within his constitutional powers to protect the sovereignty of the House and the state.

The governor’s statement was not unconnected with media reports credited to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Okiye.

Mr Okiye had alleged that Governor Hope Uzodinmm of Imo State and the impeached Deputy Speaker of the house, Yekini Idiaye, had planned to import a fake mace to violently take over control of the assembly.

“Nigeria is governed by the constitution and President Muhammadu Buhari has always said we must follow the rules of law and do things according to the law.

“For us as the executive, we will use the instrument available to us constitutionally to protect the house and the state,” Mr Obaseki said.

The governor, however, urged the House to go about its normal duties as a parliament as prescribed by the constitution.

Also, the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, said the state government would not allow other members of the Assembly whose seats had been declared vacant to take over the House.

He said the affected elected legislators have yet to be constitutionally inaugurated.

He also called on the president to intervene in the alleged plot to destabilise the state assembly.

Meanwhile, the entrance and exit gates of the Assembly Complex had been barricaded with sand and gravel, while some people were seen removing the roof of the building.

The speaker said the House was currently under renovation and the presence of security operatives at the entrance of the complex, scared the contractor and workers away.

“We are going to keep vigil here to forestall the alleged illegal invasion of the house by anybody,” Mr Okiye said.

Adams Oshiomhole, believed to be the strength behind the current Assembly struggle with a view impeaching Governor Obaseki, was said to have used mine lawmakers to pass budgets and removed the Assembly roof in his own exercised powers during his time as governor.

This, a source earlier told The DEFENDER, makes whatever Obaseki is doing currently to secure Edo State House of Assembly and the state from Oshiomhole’s control a familiar occurrence.