Oshiomhole to Edo Assembly: You’re usurping my powers

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has told the state House of Assembly that they usurped the powers of the executive arm when they directed the chairmen of the 18 local government areas of the state whose three years tenure expires today,  to hand over to the Heads of
Service in the councils. It will be recalled that the House had, on April 18, 2016, passed a resolution directing the chairmen of the councils to hand over administration to  their respective Heads of local government at the expiration of their three years tenure today. But countering the resolution, the governor, in a letter, described same as inappropriate and unacceptable. The letter read: “My attention has been drawn to the resolution of the House asking council chairmen to hand over administration on April 21, 2016. The resolution is a usurpation of the powers of the executive. The House does not have the power to give such directives “I have already directed the council chairmen to submit their handing over note and transmit same to the office of the governor.” Reacting, yesterday, on the floor of the House, the member representing Akoko Edo constituency 1, Kabiru Adjoto, insisted that the resolution of the House was in order, saying: “Mr Speaker, I want to state clearly that the House has the powers to make laws for the state and any other matter not included in the exclusive list. “We did not dissolve the councils. What we did was to remind them that their tenure expires on April 21, 2016 and directed them to hand over administration to their various heads of councils  as there can be no vacuum in government. I want to move that the Attoney General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, be invited to explain why he has misinformed the governor on constitutional matter.”