The Edo State
chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, kicked against
reported plan by Governor Adams Oshiomhole to present a N5 billion
supplementary budget to the House of Assembly for consideration, few days to
the end of his tenure.
The state Chairman
of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, also dared Governor Oshiomhole to
take President
Muhammadu Buhari on a facility tour of his private residence to prove that the
current anti-corruption war was not selective.
Orbih, who addressed
newsmen in Benin yesterday, accused Oshiomhole of hurriedly paying for
contracts without due process.
He said it was not
the right time for Oshiomhole to plunge the state into indebtedness by the
presentation of N5 billion supplementary budget, even as he alleged that the governor
wanted to spend the sum for the remaining days of his administration.
The PDP chairman,
who also urged visiting President Buhari to ask Oshiomhole the true owners of
the Edo University, Iyamho, stated that Buhari would not need any further
evidence to show that his anti-corruption crusade is selective if he takes a
walk through roads in the state and the private residence of Governor
Oshiomhole.
“These are hard
times for the people of this state. This is not the time to plunge the state
into indebtedness by a man who has less than eight days to go to demand for N5
illion supplementary budget,” Orbih said.
Describing the
suspension of the Onojie of Uromi as not only provocative, vindictive but aimed
at provoking the peace-loving people of Uromi, Orbih said the action is a
political vendetta which has become the hallmark of the Oshiomhole
administration.
He said the governor
has no power under the laws of the country to suspend the traditional ruler,
and therefore, called on him to
immediately reverse the suspension order.
“As far as the PDP
and its members are concerned, the PDP will continue to recognise him as the
Onojie of Uromi. His only offence was that he supported the PDP governorship
candidate in the last governorship election. When we reclaim our mandate, we
will pay back to him all his entitlement,” Orbih said.
Besides the PDP, the
Coalition of Registered Parties (CRPP)
in the state, also condemned the suspension of the traditional ruler.
CRPP said it was,
“an arrant arrogance and impunity of the Oshiomhole government which should not
be allowed to stand because it is an affront on the traditional institution in
Edo state”, even as it accused the governor of playing God.
In a statement
signed by its state chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, CRPP alleged that “Oshiomhole
is noted for display of naked powers to intimidate, harass and subdue an
imaginary opposition that refuses to tow his path of perdition especially the just concluded governorship
election conducted by INEC which CRPP has rejected and described as not credible and manipulated.”
“Oshiomhole’s action
is to vent his anger on the amiable, humble and well respected Onojie of Uromi.
The out going governor’s action as usual is to spite the well respected Iyasele
of Esan land and the people of Esan land for not voting for APC in the last
governorship election”, the statement said.
The CRPP therefore,
called on the governor to rescind the one year suspension, more so when the
woman in question has apologized to the Onojie who has also forgiven her and
equally apologized to the state government.
The Edo State
Government had in a letter dated November 4, 2016, and signed by Secretary to
the Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, suspended the Traditional ruler of
Uromi, Zaiki Eidenojie II from his stool for one year for failing to apologise
within the stipulated period of seven days to a woman, Ms Betty Okoeber, whom
he allegedly assaulted on September 28, among other infractions.
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