Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, the Speaker of
Edo state House of Assembly, has stepped down after two months – She stepped down
after a motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedengbe – She was
replaced by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh the Speaker of Edo state House of Assembly,
has stepped down from as Speaker after barely two months in office.
Mrs Ativie
who was sworn in on May 3 after her predecessor Victor Edoror was impeached,
was replaced by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh.
She stepped down after so short a
time after a motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedengbe, under
matters of urgent public importance, for a change in the leadership of the
House.
According to Punch, Ogedengbe explained that
the change was necessary to ensure fairness in the political system, so that
all three senatorial districts would be adequately represented.
Since,
Adams Oshiomhole the state governor hails from Edo North senatorial district
while his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, and Ativie hail from Edo South. Therefore
they needed someone from Edo Central senatorial district and Okonoboh
represents Igueben constituency in Edo Central senatorial district. Mrs Ativie
would therefore become deputy. Ogedengbe said: “I going to move that there is a
change of leadership in the House in order that this state moves forward, that
there will be fairness and equity in the system, that the three senatorial
districts will be properly accommodated. I am going to move with a heavy heart.
“I move, therefore, that the Speaker of the
Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, should step down and assume
office as Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and that the Deputy
Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, be promoted as the new Speaker.” He said that 17
members of the House had supported the change of leadership, but 18 members
stood up for identification in support of the motion, which was seconded by the
member representing Oredo West, Chris Okaeben. Ativie accepted the change also,
and despite her short stay in office she commended the lawmakers for giving her
the opportunity to serve and urged them to accord same to her successor. She
said: “Although this is a huge a difficult sacrifice to make, I believe that it
should be done for the sake of the people of Edo state. No sacrifice will be
too big to pay in meeting the yearning aspirations of or people, who elected us
to this House. Today, I bury my pride and my ambition for the general good of
the people and the state, through which I emerged as a legislator’’ Okonoboh on his part said that his emergence
as Speaker was a result of wide consultations within the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
He noted that the new development was a House
matter that was devoid of any interference from the governor. He also commended
Ativie for her willingness to step down in a manner unprecedented in the entire
country, vowing that all her appointments would remain valid. Earlier, it was
reported that the real reason for Mrs Ativie’s stepping down was a political
move by the APC. The political move was aimed at boosting the All Progressives
Congress (APC)’s chances of victory in the September 10 governorship poll.
According to a report on This Day, the APC in Edo state have decided to play
their cards well ahead of the upcoming poll and at such, moved to balance the
tripod arrangement in the state.
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