Youths Demand Defected Edo Lawmaker to Relinquish Mandate

Posted by African Examiner Uncategorized Thursday, June 12th, 2014

Ignatius Okpara, Benin

The power tussles in Edo State House Assembly on Thursday took a new twist as scores of youths thronged streets of Orhionmwon council area, protesting against one of the suspended lawmakers, Hon. Friday Ogieriakhi, accusing him of ‘hawking’ the mandate freely given to him.

Hon Ogieriakhi was among the four embattled lawmakers suspended by the Assembly over what it termed “gross misconduct”.

The protesting youths thronged Abudu area which is the headquarters of Orhionmwon council, maintaining that their confidence and support for state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Speaker, Hon. Uyi Igbe remain unshaken.

Spokesman of the youths, Nosa Izekor, stated “the lawmaker defected to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) without due consultation with us, and refused to relinquish our mandate given to him”. Izekor revealed, the Orhionmwon South representative allegedly sold his mandate for N50 million in total disregard for the wishes of the electorates.

Another youth, Edomwonyi Netete, said the present administration in the state under the leadership of Comrade Oshiomhole has performed creditably well in Orhionmwon area and the state in general. Responding, Orhionmwon Council chairman, Hon. Roland Ibierutomwen promised to forward their grievances to the state Governor and his Deputy, Dr Pius Odubu