By Patrick Ahanor
There was tension yesterday at the Edo state House of Assembly following the suspension of its deputy speaker, Hon Festus Ebea, and three other members.
Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday accused the defecting lawmakers of mortgaging the mandate of the people for the sum of N50 million each, declaring that he was, however, not disturbed with the shenanigans of the legislators.
Oshiomhole, who stated this when he addressed different sets of youths on peaceful protest to the Government House thanked the youths “ for recognising that we all went round to campaign for these people who have decided to sell their mandate for naira and kobo. What is sickening is that they are young men who should be anxious to break from the past.”
The defecting legislators are Hon Friday Ogieriakhi representing Orhionmwon South, Jude Ise-Idehen representing Ikpoba-Okha and Patrick Osayimwen representing Oredo East.
The trio were amongst the four All Progressives Congress (APC) who recently dump the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) motion for the suspension of the affected lawmakers was moved by Hon Paul Ohonbamu and seconded by Hon Philip Shuaibu.
The duo accused the lawmakers of misconduct under Section 38 Rules Three of the House Rules.
A total of 11 members were present at the sitting.
Chairman, Committee on Youth, Sports and Information, Hon Kabiru Adjoto, clarified that their action was not because the lawmakers defected to the PDP.
Adjoto said the suspended lawmakers had approached other lawmakers offering huge sums to defect to the PDP.
He accused the deputy speaker of forming a parallel leadership in the House aimed at impeaching the speaker and Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
He said: “The Deputy Speaker has become so arrogant and dictatorial that he no longer sees the party and Mr. Speaker as one.
“He has created parallel leadership and that leadership is aimed at destabilising the House of Assembly which is to impeaching Mr. Speaker and the Comrade Governor.”