HEART-TO-HEART…

Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Okiye, has said that the current crisis rocking the state legislature was a smokescreen by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to eventually deny the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki of a second term.

This is coming as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has assured of more investment to boost creative talent among youths as part of measures to exploit the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to create jobs and grow the economy.

Fielding questions from journalists yesterday on the crisis rocking the state legislature, the speaker said the planned takeover of the state Assembly by the Senate is capable of destabilising Edo State, adding that the Red Chamber should act as agents of peace and not merchants of crisis.

“The truth is that the Edo State Assembly and my office as the speaker are not the real targets of this crisis. The plot is actually aimed at Governor Obaseki and the endpoint is to stop him from getting a return ticket as governor next year.

“Comrade Oshiomhole is actually after Obaseki, the state Assembly was only a smokescreen to his plans. The idea now is to take over the house, destabilise the state and possibly impeach the governor. The Edo Peoples Movement that originated this crisis has boasted that they will ensure that the governor does not come back for the second tenure.”

He added that the threat to take over by the National Assembly was part of the grand plot of Oshiomhole.

Okiye said: “I have said it before on several occasions that we know who is beating the drum for them in the National Assembly. They have found themselves in the position of stooge to make it look like they cannot think outside the box, it’s unfortunate.”

He urged his aggrieved colleagues to come over to the Assembly and regularise their documents as lawmakers- elect.

The speaker said plenary activities are in full swing as lawmakers are considering bills, screening commissioners and aides and other legislative activities.

“We have been sitting as a parliament. I just drove out office after the plenary session. Lawmakers are going about their committee work. We just invited Commissioner for Works to appear before the House over a matter of public importance.

“The door is open for the remaining lawmaker-elect, they should come to Assembly, complete and regularize their documentation and they will be sworn in.

“The constitution says when the House is unable to sit, that means when it cannot perform the function it was supposed to perform. And this notification was supposed to be given or declared by the governor who will say that there is no one to clear my commissioners, oversee my legislative requests and so on. That was what the constitution contemplated, not the National Assembly sitting over a state Assembly as if we are a colony under them.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo has assured of more investment to boost creative talent among youths as part of measures to exploit the AfCFTA to create jobs and grow the economy.

Osinbajo, who was represented by Obaseki, gave the assurance at the end of a four-week training for 1,500 youth in the N-Creative programme, a part of the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme, in Benin City, Edo State. President Muhammadu Buhari (left), and Chairman of Lee Engineering and Construction Company, Chief Leemon Ikpea, during a courtesy call on President Buhari, at the State House, Abuja…recently