03082019 - Worsening Insecurity: Suspected herdsmen kill Catholic priest in Enugu

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C M Y K 14—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2019 EDO: How our trouble started – Speaker Political solution being foreclosed for court solution ‘My colleagues said they would only do what Oshiomhole wanted' Rt. Hon Frank Okiye, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly speaks on the crisis in the state legislature, the threat of take over by the Senate and the role of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the crisis, among others. •Rt. Hon Frank Okiye You’re the speaker of a house that is the source of controversy now. How did the problem in Edo State Assembly start? Let’s have the details from you. Before the elections, the 24 APC lawmakers who were candidates as at then were already interacting and some of them even as candidates were already seeing me as their possible speaker because of the way I emerged as candidate. So, the relationship was cordial as candidates then and even when we won the elections. So, going into the election that took place on March 9, we all did campaigns together and we congratulated ourselves upon our victory. In fact, when all the 24 were declared winners, they started calling me their speaker, even before we got sworn in. About eight of them gathered and met with me, two of them were even negotiating what offices they could hold and what committee they could be assigned. Everything was going on smoothly within our fold until the body, Edo Peoples Movement, emerged and then trouble started. What did the Edo Peoples Movement do? I just noticed that these same persons that we were speaking cordially as brothers and soon-to-be colleagues started foot-dragging and some were not even answering my calls any longer, then I knew that there was a problem. At the end of the day, everything snowballed into whether the lawmakerelects were willing to be inaugurated. They now started saying that they were waiting for the green light from Oshiomhole and his stance on the house leadership; that if he asked them to vote otherwise, they would do so, but if he asked them not to vote otherwise then I could be sure of their votes. That was how the whole problem started with the horsetrading and lobbying. What was the position of the Edo state chapter of the APC when the horsetrading commenced since all 24 are from the same party? The party actually stood up to be counted and one must commend the effort of the party in the state. The party made its stance known as to the sharing of offices for the Assembly based on the principle of equity to ensure that no zone or constituency in the state was left out. They carried everyone along including those who refused to come for their inauguration. That was why its irritating and unfair when people said Governor Obaseki was the one who handpicked principal members of the house. In fairness to him, he was not involved in the process. It was the party that devised The section of the constitution which empowered National Assembly to take over the functions of a State House of Assembly is clearly and unambiguously stated in sections 11(4) and 11(5) of the Constitution the framework on the emergence of the leadership of the House based on the principle of equal representation. Go and check it, the constituted leadership in the house is balanced and every constituency has something to show. The party actually came out clearly with its stand as to who are the people that should occupy each of the offices and our names were declared in the presence of stakeholders of the party, all 24 members-elect were present at the meeting. Why didn’t they align with the decision of the party? They were saying all sorts of things and it was at that point we started having all the problems that we are now having. They said Comrade Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of our party, must tell them this and tell them that. They said he was the only one that could talk to them and eventually they told me that Comrade had ordered that they should go the other way. Later, they came and said they wanted money. I told them that I had not been inaugurated and they could not be making a demand for money. They said no, that they knew that Governor Obaseki wouldn’t give them money because some of them knew the governor very well and that if he didn’t give them money at that time, he would not give them again. They also said that they figured the governor was in support of my candidacy and they would not agree because they didn’t want anyone who had the support of the governor as the speaker. So, until the party met with us and rolled out the list of the people they wanted in the office, we all thought it would be easy and over. What eventually culminated at the inauguration day of the elected members? It was clear that they had other ideas than the wish of the party. On the Monday morning that we were supposed to be inaugurated, they acted strangely. You would call Mr A, he wouldn’t answer; same went for Mr. B. Some said they were in Abuja, some said they were in Sapele, some said that they had not heard from the Comrade and all kinds of stories but we didn’t know that they went to address a press conference. But before that day, we were all like brothers, we were all meeting like a team, we were all together in the Code of Conduct Bureau. So, the idea of saying some persons had to be invited from a distance was not there. So, for them to say that they were not invited or the invitation wasn’t published in newspapers was just an •Obaseki excuse to invalidate what was legally and logically done. On the inauguration day, about five of us were there at the Assembly at about 2:30pm and we waited for the rest of them. Before we knew it, some others joined us. When we got to about nine, that was around 4pm or thereabout, we told the Clerk that the law does not say everyone must be complete and that since we had formed a quorum, we could then go ahead and get inaugurated. It was after this that the Clerk commenced the business of inauguration and someone nominated me and the nomination was seconded by another and the Clerk asked for a further nomination but there was none. That was how I became the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly ditto for the Deputy Speaker and other principal officers. So, we rose that day, adjourned sitting and since then we have been sitting. Are you saying that the Edo State House of Assembly has been sitting and conducting parliamentary activities? We have been sitting as a parliament. I just drove out of office after the plenary session. Lawmakers are going about their committee work. We just invited the Commissioner for Works to appear before the House over a matter of public importance. Senator Rochas Okorocha cautioned his colleagues against the swift takeover of the Edo State Assembly. Why do you think the National Assembly plans to take over the Assembly which you preside? 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 position of a stooge to make it look like they cannot think outside the box, it’s unfortunate. It wasn’t only Okorocha that spoke against the undemocratic tendency of the Senate, another lawmaker who is a lawyer from Benue also asked them where the decision they are taking on Edo Assembly is supported in the constitution, asking them where the time and venue of taking over a state Assembly are spelled out. The truth is that the Edo State Assembly and my office as the speaker are not the real targets of this crisis. In fact, I can’t find myself anywhere in the whole scheme. The plot is actually aimed at Governor Obaseki and stopping him from getting a return •Oshiomole 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, destabilize the state and possibly impeach the governor. The Edo Peoples Movement that originated this crisis have boasted that they will ensure that the governor does not come back for a second tenure. But I said to people that that is not the decision for them to make for our state. We don’t know what Oshiomhole wants. Oshiomhole is the one behind Edo Assembly crisis and he is simply after Obaseki. However, the door is open for the remaining lawmaker-elect, they should come to the Assembly, complete and regularize their documentation and they will be sworn in. What is the way out of the crisis? I guess a political solution to the matter is getting foreclosed by the day and the courts may have to be the solution provider now. The National Assembly should know that the lawmakers that they are purportedly fighting for are already in the court of law. The senate cannot be seen to be going against its own rule of interfering in any matter that is already before the court. They should not allow themselves to be tossed around. We are a law-abiding people and we are waiting for the verdict of the court on this issue. The National Assembly must take note that they are to act as agents of peace and not merchants of crisis. Edo State has always been peaceful and any attempt for them to carry out this order will certainly disrupt the peace that is currently being enjoyed in the state. The section of the constitution which empowered National Assembly to take over the functions of a State House of Assembly is clearly and unambiguously stated in sections 11(4) and 11(5) of the Constitution. These conditions do not apply here in Edo Assembly as the House has been performing legislative businesses in a peaceful atmosphere with me presiding as the Speaker. Since inauguration, the House has adopted the business calendar, constituted statutory committees, cleared commissioners and passed several resolutions. This is why I advised my colleagues who have refused to be inaugurated to present themselves for documentation and inauguration in other for them to give quality representation to the people who elected them.
SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2019—15 Ayiri to E.K. Clark on Edo crisis: You cannot undermine NASS powers •Jabs Obaseki, speaks on 2023 elections in Delta Chief Ayiri Emami is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Saturday Vanguard he spoke on President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with Itsekiri leaders at Aso villa during the week. He also reacted to the crisis rocking the Edo State APC. He faulted Chief EK Clark over his comment on the Edo state House of Assembly, saying that his argument that the National Assembly had no right to take over the Assembly was wrong. Excerpts: Itsekiri leaders visited President Muhammadu Buhari today, how was it? It was a very good visit. Mr President welcomed the Itsekiri people and he appreciated the votes he got from the Itsekiris. The Olu of Warri made several demands, particularly bordering on insecurity issues along the Benin-Ore road. He made some request that security agents should be deployed along that road to check the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers. We also discussed the issue of the Warri Port and Koko Port. We also discussed the EPZ project, the Ogidigbaen gas processing project. The foundation was laid by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, he pleaded with the President to kick start the project. We also made request for some appointments and also thanked the President for the appointment of Barrister Festus Keyamo, who is from Delta Central. It is a well-deserved appointment. The president assured us that he will look into our demands and he expressed joy that we came to pay the visit. We seriously appealed to the Federal Government to work on the Ports in the Niger Delta so as to de-congest the Lagos Port where Nigerians are finding things extremely difficult. And we have Warri, Koko and Onne ports lying fallow. And we looked at the water ways security, we believe that the President has tried. It is just for us to do one or two things to further boost security in the water ways. And as regards illegal bunkering the contractor handling the job in Delta state, OMS I think they are doing very well. So we commended Mr President for that too, the contractor is doing very well. APC victory For me, the party under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has recorded a lot of success particularly after the emergence of Mr President. That victory is overwhelming. As if that was not enough, Oshiomhole led NWC ensured the emergence of a leadership of the National Assembly anointed by the party. He worked doggedly for that and he succeeded and today the entire nation is enjoying it. There is nothing as good as having an entire house intact and working in unison, that will facilitate progress for Nigerians. So far, the party leadership has done very well and we are very happy that for the first time in the South South, we are having the Deputy senate President coming from Delta state. I read sometimes in the media people trying to criticize Oshiomhole over the loss we suffered in some states like Zamfara. I know that criticism is part of democracy but in this case we all knew the role of some political leaders in these states that led to the problem we had. It was not Oshiomhole’s fault. The man has been doing his best since he came on board. In fact some of us believed that if not that somebody like him with strong character came at this stage, our party would have collapsed before the 2019 general elections. But despite the challenges Oshiomhole held the party strong like his baby and today he has instilled discipline in the party. But you know everybody cannot like Oshiomhole. But I can tell you that majority of our party members are happy with his leadership. And in every situation, majority will always have their way while minority will have the opportunity to equally air their views. You can never satisfy everybody but I am glad Oshiomhole is capable of facing criticisms, he has taken the bull by the horns and the •Chief EK Clark party is moving forward. So I want to commend the Oshiomhole led NWC because they have made us proud. Do you think the current NWC will provide victory for the party come 2023? Definitely, I don’t see any opposition to APC come 2023, in fact before then PDP could disintegrate and many will move to APC. People will always complain and you will think heaven will fall. You recall that before 2019, some said this will be the last election in Nigeria, some said APC would be defeated due to the propaganda machine of the PDP. But what happened at the end of the day? We went into the election and emerged victorious. But what was the problem with Delta APC? Some people thought that the APC would make impact in the state in the last governorship election but it failed woefully! Yes, I am aware we had serious issues in the party but even with that we did very well than in 2015. We won some seats in the Central districts, both senate and some seats in the House of Assembly. I believe that by the next election majority of Deltans will know that they have to work with APC. With the kind of votes we got in the last election in Delta state, I am very optimistic that by 2023, we are going to take Delta state. Now that we have the Deputy Senate President, and a vibrant Minister, we are going to work harder and the sky will be our limit. Recently Ijaw leader, Chief EK Clark urged the National Assembly not to attempt to take over the running of the Edo state House of Assembly, what is your take on that as a chieftain of the APC? When I read that I felt very disappointed because he is an elder statesman and he should know the laws more than many of us. I recall that Chief Clark never supported Governor Obaseki before he became governor, so if Obaseki is trying to be very ungrateful to people that brought him to power, I think, as a father, Chief Clark should have advised him better, not to cause chaos in Edo state because Edo and Delta are still the same. I expected him to call Obaseki and advise him as a father but he did not do that, rather he took side immediately. Let me tell you, there is nothing about Edo state that we don’t know. The National Assembly has it as a duty to intervene in any state Assembly that has crisis. So for anybody to fault that move is unfortunate and that Is why I am shocked with the comment made by Chief EK Clark. All of us knew how Obaseki became governor of Edo state. He was never a politician. It was Oshiomhole who made him governor against all odds. Oshiomhole offended many people loyal to him just because he wanted to make Obaseki governor. So it is unfortunate that today the governor sees himself as a thin god, exhibiting so much disrespect for the man that made him governor. That is ingratitude of the highest order and it is not good for him as a governor. To me, he's an ingrate. There is an adage in Itsekiri which says you must remember the good of yesterday. Whatever Obaseki is doing he must sleep and reflect the good time he had with Comrade. A couple of times I had an •Chief Ayiri Emami opportunity to sit with Comrade and he kept saying ‘Ayiri, you know how I labored to bring Obaseki so I cannot support pulling that house down. So I don’t see Comrade fighting Obaseki but Obaseki is just fighting himself. . So Chief EK Clark should concentrate on Delta state where he caused some problems for people and leave Edo alone because he does not know how Obaseki became governor. Buhari’s policies in the Niger Delta I will appreciate Mr President and his Vice for the dialogue they initiated in the Niger Delta and that is why we are experiencing peace there today. Without peace there will not be any meaningful development in the region. But President Buhari has continued to dialogue with the stake holders in the region and we are enjoying peace. We told our people to embrace the peace process because we had opportunity of producing a president six years ago in the Person of Goodluck Jonathan, but we did not make good use of that opportunity. So let us give peace a chance so that in future other regions will consider us for the presidency. We must have learnt our lessons as a people, we will learn not to fight ourselves due to politics. I believe we must learn how to play politics from the Northerners or the South West so we can achieve our aims in this country. . But there is this impression that it will be difficult for APC to win in Delta state without the support of the former governor James Ibori, what is your take on that? Let me tell you, in 2023, Ibori will neither be the one contesting for election nor Okowa. APC will field a formidable candidate and that person will win the election for us. And not just in Delta state but other South South states will come under APC because if you see the appointments made by Mr President now, you will observe that he is bringing in more politicians unlike in 2015 when he had a lot of technocrats in his cabinet. He has laid solid foundation for 2023 with the recent appointment of more politicians into his cabinet. So come 2023, APC will win more states in the South South and the South East.
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03082019 - Worsening Insecurity: Suspected herdsmen kill Catholic priest in Enugu

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