Obaseki dares NASS, says ‘I will not issue fresh proclamation’

Chidi Samuel|

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday declared that he would not issue a fresh proclamation letter for the inauguration of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly.

It will be recalled that following the crisis that crippled the assembly’s activities, an ad-hoc committee set up by House of representative recommended that the governor issue a fresh proclamation as one of the conditions to prevent NASS takeover of its activities.

Also, a publication in one of the National dailies said President Buhari has directed the governor to issue a fresh proclamation.

But in a statement by his spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki quoting the 1999 Constitution as amended, pointed out that state governors are mandated to issue proclamation only once for the inauguration of their Houses of Assembly, insisting he has dutifully performed the function.

According to the statement, the publication was one of the many efforts by agents and hirelings sponsored by entrenched interests in the state whose stranglehold on the state’s resources has been displaced as President Buhari will not issue directives that contradicts the Nigerian constitution.

The statement read, “We wish to state categorically that the story is false as there is no Presidential directive to the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to issue a fresh proclamation.

“President Muhammadu Buhari that we know is a law-abiding leader who will not issue directives that contradict the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“The publication is one of the many efforts by agents and hirelings sponsored by entrenched interests in the state whose stranglehold on the state’s resources has been displaced by the people-centric governance model of the Obaseki-led administration.

“We urge the public and all concerned to disregard the publication.”