Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has declared that he will resist attempt by anyone to illegally take over the state House of Assembly.
Speaking with newsmen at the assembly complex in Benin on Thursday, Obaseki said he would do everything within his constitutional powers to protect the sovereignty of the house and the state.
This is coming after the Assembly Speaker, Frank Okiye alleged that Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and the impeached Deputy Speaker of the house, Yekini Idiaye, were working in cahoot to import a fake mace to violently take over control of the assembly.
“Nigeria is governed by the constitution and President Muhammadu Buhari has always said we must follow the rules of law and do things according to the law,” said the incumbent governor.
“For us as the executive, we will use the instrument available to us constitutionally to protect the house and the state.”
Obaseki further uged the House to go about its normal duties as a parliament as prescribed by the constitution.
Also, Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor, vowed that the state government would not allow other members of the assembly whose seat had been declared vacant to take over the house.
Shaibu said the affected elected legislators have yet to be constitutionally inaugurated.
As did the Assembly Speaker earlier, the Deputy Governor called on the president to intervene in the alleged plot to destabilize the state assembly.
Meanwhile, sand and gravel were seen at the entrance and exit gates of the Assembly complex in a form of barricade, while some people were also seen removing the roof of the building.
When asked why these were at the complex, the speaker explained that the complex was currently under renovation but the presence of security operatives at the entrance of the complex scared the contractor and workers away.
“We are going to keep vigil here to forestall the alleged illegal invasion of the house by anybody,” he added.
