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Threats of defection allegedly hit Edo assembly

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
10 July 2017   |   4:05 am
Some members of the Edo State House of Assembly have reportedly threatened to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

Edo Assembly

Some members of the Edo State House of Assembly have reportedly threatened to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

The Guardian leant that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged denial of funds to the assembly may be the reason.

According to the lawmakers, while over 700 employees are working at the 24-member assembly, the governor has been starving it of funds.

One of the lawmakers, who did not want his name in print, alleged that Obaseki last week slashed their overheads by N25million.

“We have therefore decided that since he does not listen, we may leave the party for him and others and thank God, we have the newly-registered ADP in the state as alternative.
He was elected in the same way that we were elected, even as we laboured to ensure his victory, so we cannot be taken for granted,” the lawmaker said.

It was also leant that the governor has also allegedly canceled the members’ security votes, as well as their regular overseas trips to attend Edo convention in the United States of America.

Some of the APC lawmakers lamented that the governor has done nothing on the matter, even though they had reported the matter to party leaders, including ex-governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The lawmaker said: “The governor does not care about our welfare. We are all aware that things are hard, but that does not mean that the lawmakers have to be denied of their entitlements even as we are the poorest state assembly in the country.

The generator we are using at the complex is over 30 years old. We used to travel twice a year as part of our oversight duties, but the governor stopped it.

“When we meet our colleagues outside the state, we look like beggars. From what we have heard, the governor does not take advice from any one.”

Efforts to Obaseki’s reaction were futile, while his deputy, Philip Shaibu, the Secretary to the State Governor (SSG) and the newly appointed commissioners and special advisers were said to be at a retreat in Lagos.

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