Senior Special Assistant to the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on media, Mr Benjamin Atu, has called on the State House of Assembly to write their names in gold by ensuring that the legislature stands shoulder high above the executive in terms of learning, patriotism, soberness, honesty, and integrity by upholding the rule of law, which is the strong pillar of democratic institutions.
Benjamin Atu, who was reacting to the withdrawal of the State House of Assembly and the Speaker Hon. Blessing Agbebaku in a suit filed against the Council Chairmen, stated that the Speaker and the State House of Assembly have positioned themselves as a refuge for the masses by not becoming stooges in the hands of today’s powerful men who have not considered the consequences of their actions and life after office.
It would be recalled that Governor Monday Okpebholo illegally sacked the elected Council Chairmen in December after he assumed office in November. The illegal removal of the Chairmen has sparked outrage from Nigerians who berated the Governor and condemned his action as anti-Democratic as the Supreme Court judgement and Nigeria’s Constitution supersede all other local or state laws.
He said, Despite the intervention of the AGF and the reversal of the purported suspension of the 18 local Government Council Chairmen by various Court declarations, the Governor has refused to comply with the court order which ordered that the status quo of restoring the elected Chairmen be maintained.
In a statement issued today, Benjamin Atu said the Governor is strengthening hardship at the grassroots as those selected currently as acting chairmen have deepened the economic challenges of the masses. A legal suit was filed recently by the acting Chairmen where the State House of Assembly and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly were included as Claimants to dismiss a High Court judgement which prevented Banks from recognising the acting Chairmen was met with still resistance as both the State House of Assembly and the Speaker have distanced themselves from the said legal suit which was circulated across various news and social media platforms.
In a swift response to the suit No. B/3405/2025, the Edo State House of Assembly and the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, through their lawyer R. O. Isenalumhe & CO, stated that their Client, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, never instructed anyone to commence Suit No. B/3405/2025 (Edo State House of Assembly and 2 ORS VS Hon. Newman Oghomwen Ugiagbe and ORS) in their names.
According to them, neither the House of Assembly nor the Speaker were aware of the suit against the elected Chairmen, and they have therefore directed, on behalf of their clients, that the State Government and illegal acting chairmen withdraw their names from the suit immediately.
The speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, through his lawyer, has demanded a written apology from the acting Council Chairmen in Edo for the embarrassment caused to him and the entire Edo State House of Assembly by their action.
The lawyer to the claimants, therefore, filed an application before the Honourable Court to strike out the name of the Edo State House of Assembly and Speaker respectively. In its ruling yesterday, the court struck out the names of the speaker and the State Assembly.
Speaking further on the issue, Benjamin Atu described the case as dead on arrival as the Supreme Court is clear that an elected chairman cannot be removed under any state or local government law. The Councillor’s case is unknown under the law; it is a futile effort he said.
“While commending the bold steps of the State Legislature, he said “I call on the State House of Assembly to take the part of honour and patriotism by putting public interest above parochial considerations. It’s now time to call off the illegal suspension of the council chairmen to enable them to continue developing their various LGAs. The Supreme Court has ruled and granted autonomy to elected council Chairmen, who are not outsiders but integral citizens of the State. We must exercise caution when tormenting others politically, because those who are not in your party today may become those on whom you rely tomorrow for political survival. All politicians live in a glass house; they should, therefore, be cautious when throwing stones, the statement added.
Benjamin Atu
panationalassembly@gmail.com