The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, has in strong terms condemned the recent fracas at the Edo State House of Assembly during their change of leadership on Monday.
He described the incident as a display of “political hooliganism and barbarism.’’
He expressed sadness at the violence that preceded impeachment of former Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh.
DAILY POST reports that House elected the member representing Akoko Edo I constituency, Mr. Kabiru Adjoto, as the new Speaker.
19 members of the House were said to have signed the impeachment notice.
The Benin monarch stated that while he was not against a leadership change in the legislature, the “frequent violent changes is capable of negating the interest of the people, which ought to be paramount to the lawmakers at all times”.
The Oba, who said that he had watched with great disappointment the throwing of chairs and use of fisticuffs among members of the House of Assembly, noted that their action “does not portray them as honourable members” but was “a sign of desperation for power”.
It would be recalled that the APC has also reacted to the incident.