Niger Delta Brigade, a foremost Ijaw socio-political organization committed to good governance and democracy has called on the Edo State House of Assembly not to take Edo people for granted as they prepare to resume plenaries in the coming days.
The group spokesman, Mr Binabi Zoukouma gave this call in Benin City recently while addressing Pressmen during one of its extraordinary meetings in the state capital.
Mr Zoukouma said the group and all Edo people are watching and monitoring the activities in the hallowed chambers and therefore admonish them to be on the side of the people and not allow itself to be used by the outgoing government to throw the state into confusion and anarchy.
Responding to the recent alleged leave application by the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki, the group cautioned the House of Assembly against granting such request as approval would be translated to mean, and seen as the hallowed chamber directly working against the interest of Edo people and warned that such move would be resisted by the people.
According to the group, the Governor ought to be setting up a transition committee and working round the clock to ensure a smooth handing over to the incoming government as well as giving an account of its stewardship to the people of Edo state and not thinking of leaving the state few days to the expiration of his tenure.
Mr Binabi Zoukouma said, “there are allegations making the rounds of plot by the Governor of trying to engage in last minutes looting of the state treasury and securing a leave approval from the House of Assembly to enable him launder the money outside the shores of Nigeria.
“We want to use this medium to send a strong message to the State House of Assembly to be weary of this move by the outgoing Governor. There is a new government in the state and the era of impunity where people do as they wish is gone. Every action henceforth will have serious consequences, and we expect the House of Assembly to at this point align itself with the people of the state in ensuring a smooth handing over to the new government”.
The group also called on the outgoing Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki not to be in a hurry to leave the state if he has nothing to hide, stressing that his seeking for leave few weeks to his handing over raises serious concern of integrity and honesty and advised him to stop engaging in childish hide and seek games, as the people are watching carefully and will not hesitate to take action should he try to undermine the transition process.
Governor Godwin Obaseki has been in the center of various controversies since his candidate’s defeat at the polls few weeks ago with many keen observers alleging that he has abandoned governance and engaging on a last minutes attempt to loot and launder money through various undignified decoy
