Crisis-Torn Edo Assembly Elects New Speaker, Onobun
Former Speaker Okiye faces accusations of financial misappropriation, abuse of office
BY VICTOR BUORO – The crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly (ESHA) took another dramatic turn on Monday, October 12, 2020 with sudden impeachment of Speaker Frank Okiye.
The unexpected change of leadership saw Hon Marcus Onobun elected immediately by the members and sworn in as the new Speaker during a plenary session that lasted a few minutes.
The House new helmsman, Onobun is a member representing Esan West state constituency. The former Speaker Okiye, also from Edo Central (Esan-speaking area) was removed from office by nine (9) out of 10 members of the Assembly.
His impeachment followed a motion moved by the House Leader, Mr Henry Okhuarobo (Ikpoba-Okha) and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo 1 in the Assembly, Prince Yekini Idaiye.
Thereafter, the member representing Igueben State Constituency, Mr Ephraim Aluebhosele, moved a motion to nominate the new Speaker and it was seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo II State Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Agbaje.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Roland Asoro, who presided over the plenary, put the motion to a voice vote where it enjoyed the support of all the members at plenary.
The new Speaker, Hon Onobun, thanked members for their support and confidence in electing him to lead the House going forward
He thereafter dissolved all the House Standing Committees and relieved all appointees of their current portfolios..
Mr Onobun also constituted a three-man Committee to consider the House’s financial records under the leadership of the former Speaker, who has been placed under three months suspension to allow for a peaceful transition.
Okiye was accused of alleged high-handedness, financial misappropriation and abuse of office among other offences.
Inside sources hinted that trouble in the Assembly among the 10 members, most of them considered loyalists of Governor Godwin Obaseki, may not be unconnected with the distribution of resources made available by the State government for members to deploy during the recently held Edo State gubernatorial election
