By Emmanuel Aziken, (Political Editor) & Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has described the Resolution of the House of Representatives, seeking to stop allocations to local government areas in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo States as ill-conceived and an attempt by the Poeples Democratic Party, PDP-dominated House to muscle the states dominated by opposition parties.

The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, in a statement, yesterday, said, “the Resolution, which is a futile attempt by the House of Representatives to assign to itself judicial functions in clear breach of the constitution is not only laughable but condemnable.

“The attempt to adjudicate on a matter before a Court of law will not only fail, but is prejudicial and a clear breach of the rules of even the House of Representatives.

“Edo State government regards the resolution as a panic measure by some Abuja-based politicians, who have completely lost touch with the realities on ground at home.

“The state government will neither be blackmailed nor intimidated by this unbridled show of force by the PDP-dominated House and will completely ignore the resolution as it does not merit any serious attention.”

Meanwhile,Senator Ehigie Uzamere (ACN, Edo South) has defended last week’s dissolution of the elected local government area chairmen in Edo State,  saying Governor Oshiomhole followed the rule of law in removing the council chairmen from office.

Uzamere, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, said the dissolution of the councils in Edo State should be differentiated from that carried out in other states,  as he affirmed that the state House of Assembly was carried along as stipulated in the enabling laws.

Senator Uzamere who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) equally defended his action in switching from the PDP saying the party was presently infirm like an HIV patient and is struck with an irredeemable crisis.

Senator Uzamere’s defence of the dissolution of the local governments as carried out by Governor Oshiomhole was against the background of opposition to the action by the House of Representatives which has asked the Accountant General of the Federation to stop the allocation meant for local governments to the State.

“The law used by the Governor was made by the State House of Assembly. The Governor in consultation with the House of Assembly, there is a law to back it. Chief Lucky Igbinedion as Governor did the same thing and cited this same law,” Uzamere said in a telephone interview.

Defending the action against the claim that the democratic system of government was guaranteed by the constitution, he said:

“The law of the State House of Assembly is not superior to the constitution, but the thing is that we also have our laws governing us. In interpreting this it is better to go to the courts not to ask the Accountant General of the Federation to stop funds going to that State.’’

Defending his defection from the PDP to the ACN he said:
”My leaving PDP is as a result of the crisis that has engulfed the party and the party is presently suffering from HIV, it is cancerous and a ticket out of this situation cannot win any election,” he said.

“You have seen the developmental strides of Comrade Oshiomhole and anybody that knows his worth should identify with him. Again there is no ambiguity in crossing from one party to the other, the constitution allows it,” as he used the division in the Edo chapter of the PDP to justify his decision.

“There is no doubt that Nigeria would be a better place today if the House attended to weightier matters affecting the generality of the people of the country with the same speed with which it handled the motion on the Local Government dissolution” it stated.