14-EDHA Members Elect: The Long Journey to Anthony Enahoros' Complex, the Consequence of Constituents
EBEN ENASCO
There have been a long walk for the fourteen elected Edo House of Assembly Members to the Anthony Enahoros' Complex to make laws and justify their selections in the representation of their constituents.
The intriguing story about them is that, for several months since they were democratically elected, they have never represented those who confided in their respective potentials to bring about the change required in their various constituents.
In one front, they are seen by the government as elected rebels who only seek to earn for their selfish motives.
But on another front, they are seen as those who are Victims of political power tussles that had been totally denied of their legitimate legislative businesses by higher authorities.
The election of March 9, 2019, may have Produced 24 legislative disciples that will from time to time decide the fate of the common man for the next four years in Edo State.
The victory in that symbolic feat, sounds like the real deal in a new paradigm shift of Democratic permutations.
Because, it was the first of its kind since the inception of the nascent Democratic dispensation to have all legislative seats to a party.
Although, the driver in the monopolistic race presumably would have thought at least 20 to 4 elective members to have opposition that perhaps challenge some decisions.
But no one would believe that in a state where the number of political parties that contested was over fifty yet no party got even a seat.
By indication, they could not even sell a virus to any of the opposition parties, hence the ruling party then, bagged it all.
The results polled and declared by electoral umpire shows the ruling All Progressive Congress defeated all other parties by implication.
Back then For Governor Godwin Obaseki, it was Heals healthy for his party to have the legislative arm in his pockets to help fortify his developmental parlance.
Recall that in his electioneering campaign, Obaseki solicited support from electorates to vote all candidates representing his then party, APC, to have a robust government.
He wasn't though disappointed as he had all seats to himself.
Contrary to the 2015 election, the APC won three out of the five Assembly seats in Edo Central.
But this has since changed with the stronghold of the main opposition party, PDP succumbed to intense pressure of the ruling party APC after the demise of Chief Tony Anenhi the man ones described as political craft.
Flowing from the impressive outing of the All Progressives Congress APC, candidates, in the Edo State House of Assembly election, some ascribed the landslide victory during the election to Governor Godwin Obaseki's style of governance resonating well with the people.
THE LONG WAY CRISIS.
The prolonged crisis, which had its roots in the supremacy squabble between Governor Godwin Obaseki and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Adams Oshiomhole, started on June 17, 2019, when nine of 24 members of the Assembly, who were all elected on the platform of the APC, were Allegedly secretly inaugurated.
According to multiple reports, the governor had earlier scheduled the proclamation of the Assembly for June 7, but it could not hold because he was said to be absent.
However, while they were waiting to be inaugurated, the Clerk of the Assembly, Yahaya Omogbai, was said to have ushered nine of them into the chamber and read out the letter of proclamation transmitted to his office by Governor Obaseki at 10 p.m. on June 17 which was firmly denied having happened in the acclaimed time.
It was speculated then that, the exclusion of the 15 members-elect who were also perceived as Oshiomhole finger prints and loyalists was to prevent them from taking control of the state legislature.
Thus, at the nocturnal sitting of the nine members-elect, the lawmaker Frank Okiye Esan North East Constituency I, as Speaker against Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate after the proclamation.
Since then, 12 of the members-elect have refused to be inaugurated while two of those who later presented their certificates of return to the Clerk and were inaugurated had not been attending plenary.
In December 2019, the Speaker, Okiye, declared vacant the seats of 12 members-elect for deliberately refusing to present their certificates of return to the Clerk of the Assembly for inauguration.
He also declared the seats of Honorables, Uyi Ekhosuehi and Henry Okaka, representing Oredo East and Owan East respectively, vacant for allegedly absconding from plenary after the inauguration.
He had hinged the decision on the fact that if the lawmakers-elect began to come for sitting from then, they would not meet the mandatory 180 sitting days enshrined in Section 109, Subsection 1(F) of the 1999 Constitution.
WHERE WE ARE NOW.
Since their elections on March 9, 2019, the affected Members-elect, Vincent Uwadiae, Ovia North-East II; Ugiagbe Dumez, Ovia North-East I; Washington Osifo, Uhunmwode; Victor Edoror, Esan Central; Kingsley Ugabi, Etsako East and Michael Ohio-Ezomo, Owan West.
Others included Sunday Aghedo, Ovia South-West; Chris Okaeben, Oredo West; Crosby Eribo, Egor; Aliyu Oshiomhole, Etsako West II; Oshomah Ahmed, Etsako Central and Ganiyu Audu, Etsako West I.
Hadn't represented their constituents leaving them out of legislative range and accordance with their people.
The romance between the executive Arm of Government and the Legislative Arm suddenly became soured when interest got over the bar.
For sure, many underlying factors had been attributed to things falling apart between the former Governor of the state and labor gaffer, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his Successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
This precipitated across followers of both interests, thereby, leading to a crack in the Ruling All Progressive Congress with a divide to both henchmen.
Attempts to bridge the crack got worse with both Party's henchmen refusing to back down as conflicts degenerated beyond considerations and acceptance.
The party, APC, became internally fractured and factionalized.
In all the tussle, fourteen members choose to go with Oshiomhole leaving the incumbent with his fate of moving the state forward with only Ten members
Time is of essence and far spent at the expense of the electorate,
but it remains to be seen just how many people will pay the price for their reoccurring failures.
At the moment, the fourteen members are in Federal high court Abuja seeking justice over s possibility of a new proclamation.
This may be a long way to justice if there would be another procedure for such proclamation by same Governor within a Constituted period.
However, it is such a perceived crisis which could end up seeing someone else return to team up with other members who have been fortunate enough to be inaugurated.
THE HONEST CONSEQUENCES OF CONSTITUENTS.
The legislature is one of the major attributes of democratic governance and if effective, could ensure good governance and provide a forum for grassroots representation.
As legislators represent various
constituencies, they have direct contact with the local populace and are able to have a feel of their needs and concerns.
The oversight role of the legislature enables it to review, study and
evaluate the implementation of laws including the use of public funds and resources.
The legislature is one of the Organs of Government in a modern
democracy, which plays a dual role of governance and also of representing the citizens in Government.
It is the most singular institution that ensures the representation of citizens giving them a feeling of inclusiveness; to feel that they own the Government by having a say in how its affairs plays.
The anti-climactic exit to pitch tent with the Governor's Predecessor, has once again brought the future of the fourteen members elect into discussion, although, they might well argue that the fact they were democratically elected seemed so probable in the first place which is evidence of their credentials for the job.
But as both camps seek to condemn each other and appeal to emotions of the electorate in the state to their advantage, what is clear from the foregoing is that the 24 lawmakers are fighting for their political interests, not necessarily the interest of the common man.
What is wrong with their method is that, they have allowed themselves to be pawns in the hands of their political benefactors.
Two honest consequences will be used to clearly depict their effects;
First, no member of the rebellious infantry lawmakers have represented their constituents for barely two years. By implications, when their tenures would have ended, they would have succeeded in depriving the people who elected them of true representations.
Secondly, they would have succeeded in stabbing their own infantry political careers to untimely death with their actions.
Although the only hope and recipe for them, is when they get judgement in court and even at such judgement, will the Governor change his earlier proclamation on them?
If this peradventure become the case, the governor may face likely impeachment. Therefore, it's almost impossible to conduct another proclamation in a singular tenure.
GOV OBASEKI DECAMPING TO PDP
The oversight functions of the 14-member elect in the state have greatly affected them and further negatively impacted the Constituents, flowing from Governor Godwin Obaseki moving to the opposition party, the People's Democratic Party, PDP.
Barely a week after the All Progressive Congress APC disqualified the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki from the Edo APC Gubernatorial Primaries, the governor had found a new home at the major opposition party, People’s Democratic Party.
Obaseki in a statement during his Electioneering Campaigns said the affected members-elect in their selfish pursuits and obedience to their godfather, betrayed the confidence reposed in them by their constituents after the House was proclaimed on June 17, 2019.
Today, Obaseki is of PDP, while the 14-member elect stayed put in their Party, APC, which further widened any move for reconciliations.
This may halt further chances of the rebellious legislatures even when they pretend to decamp, knowing that, it's hard and glaring to sugarcoat the situation after those irritating comments from both end, on one another.
They will continue to go around in circles every time they appear to have turned a corner under their current model.
The question now is that, informed by the decision to create their seats vacant, can a law court upturn their acclaimed unfair treatments and perhaps restore them?
Or would their various Constituents apply caution and wait for the pending judgement or move to change the narrative if they have the legal tendencies to act?
Better still, could this be the end of their legislative businesses given the altercation to pursue their dreams that is geometrically fading?
Nevertheless, in politics, there are no permanent enemies but permanent interests and time will tell if the gauge on car tyre will determine how far a wheel can go.
