Edo Assembly sacks Okiye as Onobun emerges new Speaker

 

Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, impeached its Speaker, Frank Okiye and elected Marcus Onobun, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member and representative of Esan West Constituency as the new Speaker.

Nine of the 10 lawmakers signed Okiye’s impeachment during Monday’s plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker, Roland Asoro. Okiye’s impeachment followed a motion moved by Majority Leader of the House, Henry Okhuarobo and seconded by representative of Akoko-Edo I, Yekini Idiaye.

Thereafter, representative of Igueben Constituency, Ephraim Aluebhosele moved a motion to nominate Onobun as the new Speaker and seconded by representative of Akoko-Edo Constituency II, Emmanuel Agbaje.

After the impeachment, Asoro put the motion to a voice vote, which enjoyed the support of all members at plenary.

Responding to his emergence as new the Speaker, Onobun thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him and thereafter, dissolved all House’ standing committees and relieved the chairmen and appointees of their appointments.

He also constituted a three-man committee to review the financial records of the House under the leadership of Okiye and also placed the former speaker on a three-month suspension for a peaceful transition.

Sources told The Guardian that Okiye’s removal was due to alleged financial misappropriation and highhandedness.

MEANWHILE, leaders of Ijaw communities in Edo South Senatorial District have congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu on their victory at the September 19, 2020 governorship poll.

They expressed confidence that Obaseki would unite the various ethnic groups in the state and create a peaceful and conducive environment for its rapid development.

In a statement signed by Chairman, Professor C. A. Dime, Edmund Tiemo (Vice Chairman) and Robinson Ogunkoru (Spokesman), among others, the community leaders charged the governor to rise above parochialism and ethnicity and strive to leave behind a long-term legacy like the late Samuel Ogbemudia.