Edo suspends monarch, PDP condemns decision

The Edo State government has suspended a traditional ruler, the Onojie of Uromi, Anselm O. Aidenojie for seven days over allegations of public assault.

The monarch was alleged to have attacked one Mrs. Betty Okoebor on September 28th in public and refused to respond to a query on the incident issued to him by the state government.

But in a reaction to the issue, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the suspension as “senseless, unconstitutional and anti-people.”

The state Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih said: “What Oshiomhole must come to terms with is that he has no power to take the action he has just taken.

“The right place to report is the police station and the police as an institution to investigate and take the case to a court of law.”

A letter by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere dated October 26, 2016, titled “Suspension from office as traditional ruler” states: “I write to convey to you, the decision of the Edo State Executive Council at its meeting suspending you from office for seven days as Onojie of Uromi. The suspension was based on the following reasons:

“Unprovoked attack, inflicting grievous bodily harm on one Mrs. Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016 in public and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office.”

“Your refusal, even after two weeks, to respond to a query issued by the appropriate authority within the stipulated 72 hours demonstrating total disregard and disrespect for constituted authority; and travelling outside the country without permission in further demonstration of your disregard for extant regulations and laws.”