Edo Speaker removed ‘for political reasons’

The newly sworn in Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Elizabeth Ative has ‘voluntarily’ stepped down from office.

She has been replaced by Hon. Justin Okonoboh, member representing Igueben constituency in the House.

The motion for Ative to step aside was moved by Majority Leader in the House, Hon. Folly Ogedegbe, and unanimously agreed to by the House, including the now former Speaker, Ative.

Interestingly, both politicians swapped positions, as Ative is now the deputy speaker of the House, while Okonoboh, who was deputy speaker took over from her as speaker.

The lawmakers proposed that Ative who is from Edo South cannot occupy the speakership position, since the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole is from Edo North, while his deputy is from the South like Ative.

According to them, the arrangement is unfair to Edo Central which has been left out.

The fact that Hon. Ative’s husband is from Edo Central could not save the situation, as she contested and won the election to the House from her birth place, in Edo South.

It was agreed to have Okonoboh take over the speakership being from the marginalized Edo Central.

Hon. Ative became Speaker in early May, when a former speaker, Victor Edoror was removed for alleged high handedness and appropriating finances meant for members to his personal use.

The latest development has sparked rumours in the state, that the removal of Ative is a grand plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state to court the Esan people in Edo Central in the run up to the September 10, 2016 governorship election in the state.

Read also: Edo lawmakers want more blood from impeached Speaker

The Esans had reportedly complained over the lopsidedness of political positions in the state, and vowed to show
their grievance by voting massively for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Their grievance was reportedly fueled by the choice of the APC candidates for the coming governorship election.

While the APC candidate for the election, Godwin Obaseki is from Edo South, his choice for deputy, Phillip Shuaibu is from the North.

However, stakeholders in Edo Central, contend that the move to placate Edo Central by replacing Ative may have come a bit too late, as they have already resolved to vote massively for PDP in the elections, to ensure that the area’s interest is taken care of.

According to them, their resolve is further strengthened by rumours in town that the removal of Ative is only a ploy to pull the wool over their eyes, as plans have been perfected to return her to the Speaker’s sit if APC wins the election.

This may not be far from the truth, as sources close to the former speaker hint that she has no plans to move from the Speaker’s quarters she presently occupies, even though she has vacated the position.

Stakeholders in Edo central therefore contend that the region would be left out in the cold should APC win the coming governorship election, hence they are not looking at the recent gift horse in the mouth.

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