Follow Us on Google
•Idiaye: He was sacked over poor leadership •Agbebaku: I resigned for personal reasons, interest of peace
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Claims and counterclaims have emerged over the resignation of the immediate past Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, with his successor, Yekini Idiaye, alleging poor leadership and corruption, while Agbebaku said he resigned for personal reasons and in the interest of peace and the state.
Idiaye, a three-term lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, emerged Speaker during Monday’s plenary following Agbebaku’s resignation amid moves by lawmakers to remove him from office.
Agbebaku reportedly resigned after receiving information that lawmakers had signed a notice seeking his removal. While reports differed on the exact number of lawmakers who signed the notice, the figures cited were 17 and 18 out of the 24-member Assembly.
The constitutional requirement for the removal of a Speaker is two-thirds of the membership of the House, which amounts to 16 lawmakers.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, Idiaye said the lawmakers were dissatisfied with the manner in which the Assembly had been administered under Agbebaku since its inauguration in June 2023.
He accused the former Speaker of poor leadership, alleged corruption and prolonged adjournments, which he said affected the functioning of the legislature.
“The House was inaugurated on the 16th of June, 2023 under the leadership of the former Speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and since then we have been passing through a lot of challenges, corruption here and there, adjournment here and there, sometimes for 30 days without a cause.
“We are not happy with his leadership style. His leadership is poor, and it has been drawing the work of the government backwards,” Idiaye said.
He said the lawmakers consequently decided to change the leadership of the House.
“That is why we removed him. We must encourage our performing governor. He is doing well. Anything that will derail or stop our performing governor, we must stop it.
“That is why we changed him. I can assure all of you that we will do everything possible to support Governor Monday Okpebholo to move this state forward,” he said.
Agbebaku, however, rejected the suggestion that he resigned because of the allegations made against him by his colleagues.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, the former Speaker said he resigned for personal reasons and in the interest of peace, Edo State and his constituency.
He said his decision was not prompted by any breakdown in his relationship with the other lawmakers.
“Differences will naturally arise because we all have our individual identities and beliefs. However, that did not stop us from passing people-oriented Bills and Resolutions in the last three years of my leadership,” Agbebaku said.
He said his decision to leave office was taken after considering what he described as the broader interests of the state and his constituents.
“My decision to resign was taken in the interest of peace, the state, and my immediate constituency, Owan West,” he said.
Agbebaku also expressed appreciation to Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as the governor’s support and cooperation during his tenure.
“I appreciate the Governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his support and cooperation during my tenure,” he said.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Edo State and appealed to his supporters to remain calm following his resignation.
“I reaffirm my loyalty to the party and to the state,” he said.
“I urge all my supporters to remain calm and to continue to believe in the greater good and the development of democracy in the state,” Agbebaku added.
He also congratulated Idiaye on his emergence as Speaker and urged members of the Assembly to maintain peace and work together.
“I congratulate the new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idaiye, and other principal officers of the House,” he said.
“I call for peaceful coexistence among all lawmakers,” he added.
Idiaye’s emergence was also linked to the zoning arrangement in the state legislature, under which the Speakership is expected to go to Edo North when the governor is from Edo Central.
Governor Okpebholo is from Edo Central, while Idiaye represents Akoko-Edo Constituency I in Edo North.
The new Speaker, being the most senior lawmaker from the zone and a third-term member of the House, was subsequently elected to lead the Assembly.
The leadership change followed reports that lawmakers had begun moves to impeach Agbebaku on Sunday night. However, his resignation came before the reported impeachment process could be concluded.
Agbebaku’s resignation was confirmed earlier
Claims and counterclaims have emerged over the resignation of the immediate past Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, with his successor, Yekini Idiaye, alleging poor leadership and corruption, while Agbebaku said he resigned for personal reasons and in the interest of peace and the state.
