Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, Wednesday said times and opportunities lost to the political crisis in the state can never be recovered again.
Okiye made the remarks at a press conference tagged, ‘Putting the records straight’ at the premises of the Assembly.
“We must equally reckon with the sad truth that the times and opportunities lost to this political disagreements and the obvious failure of our brothers to give their constituencies a mandated representation, can never be recovered again.
“This is a big disservice to the people of their constituencies and the mandate given to them. This is not a fair political game. It is unacceptable,” he said.
He said the declaration of seat of the absentee members-elect vacant was not to hurt anybody but to bring sanity and responsibility to politics and governance in the state as well as to assert the importance of the legislative arm. While noting that failure to declare the seats vacant would have hunted the house for a long time to come, opined that they courageously toed the path of honour and constitutionality.
According to him, “If we as politicians and elected officials must fight ; if we must disagree and if we must act in any way, we must never do so to the disadvantage of the good of our dear state.
“It is irresponsible, unthoughtful and indeed an unpardonable sin to abdicate responsibilities under any guise, while also indulging in retrogressive politics at the expense of the people.
“We are paid to serve the people; they must get adequate rewards for their money. Tomorrow shall judge our today. On our part, we shall not relent in serving the people,” he added.
He however, added that the political crisis rocking the party in the state predated the proclamation letter for the inauguration of the 7th State House of Assembly by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
He alleged that the crisis was prompted by the inordinate ambition of the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole to dictate the political affairs of the state at the expense of the sitting governor, Godwin Obaseki.
