Governor Godwin Obaseki has condemned the “planned” takeover of the Edo state House of Assembly on Thursday, August 6, an incident he described as a coup d’etat.
Obaseki who accused his predecessor Adams Oshiomhole of initiating plans to throw the state into crisis ahead of the September 19 governorship election, also averred that the purported inauguration of 14 lawmakers of the assembly is an “illegal assault on our democracy”.
Speaking in a state broadcast on Friday, August 7, Obaseki said “The attempt to invade the assembly complex had all the hallmarks of an attempted coup d’état. My administration will do whatever it takes to defend the rule of law. Any person or group of persons who set out to test our will in this regard will meet with the full wrath of the law. The people of Edo State rose as one to prevent the desecration of our democracy. It is however worrisome that certain persons are willing to plunge the society into avoidable anarchy and conflict just to satisfy their illegitimate objectives. This unfortunate situation has festered because a former governor of the state is bent on throwing the state into crisis ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections. The action of the lawmakers on Thursday is tantamount to treason and this government will take all steps necessary to defend the rule of law and democratic ideals”.