By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN CITY—THE traditional institution and stakeholders in Edo State, yesterday, warned that they may wield the big stick on the warring members of the state House of Assembly, saying that the failure of the lawmakers to act as “real hourable members” was embarrassing to the people of the state.

The stakeholders also tasked journalists in the state to expose politicians who want to cause violence ahead the 2015 general elections in Nigeria and Edo State in particular, warning that everything must be done to ensure a united and democratic country.

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie, Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, former Minister of State for Works, Engr. Chris Ogienwonyi, Mr Ken Imasuagbon and the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly Philip Shaibu, spoke at the launch of the secretariat complex of the Correspondents Chapel, Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Benin City.

Imasuagbon in his remarks, expressed sadness over the division in the state House of Assembly and urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole and leadership of the PDP to come together to resolve the crisis.

“I call on the governor and the PDP leadership to come together to reconcile the differences between members of the House. I am asking the Edo people to rise to challenge the disunity in the politics of Edo state,” he said.

The chairman of the occasion, Senator Owie, regretted that the lawmakers have refused to follow due process in the affairs of the House, stressing that the laws of the Assembly was explicit on the rules of the House, adding that the decision of the majority of the lawmakers supersedes that of the minority

Royal father of the occasion, Chief Edebiri, said “What is happening at the Assembly is sad because some of these lawmakers who refused to obey the law could not even pay taxes before now but today they are all behaving like big men. They no longer listen to any body. Though we are still talking to them on the need to resolve the matter else we may have to wield the big stick which will not be too good for them.”