Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, has stepped down from the role.
She was replaced by the Deputy Speaker,
Dr. Justin Okonoboh, by 18 out of the 24 members of the House and sworn
in at about 11am on Monday.
It would be recalled that Ativie was sworn in on May 3 her predecessor, Victor Edoror, was impeached.
Ativie decided to step down after a
motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedengbe, under matters
of urgent public importance, for a change in the leadership of the
House.
Ogedengbe explained that the change was
necessary to ensure fairness in the political system, so that the three
senatorial districts would be represented.
The incumbent State Governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, hails from Edo North senatorial district while his deputy,
Dr. Pius Odubu, and Ativie hail from Edo South.
Okonoboh represents Igueben constituency in Edo Central senatorial district.
Rules 1(2), 20, 22 and 73 of the House
were relaxed before the member representing Owan East asked Ativie to
step down for the Igueben lawmaker to assume officer while she took
office as his deputy.
Ogedengbe “I going to move that there is
a change of leadership in the House in order that this state moves
forward, that there will be fairness and equity in the system, that the
three senatorial districts will be properly accommodated. I am going to
move with a heavy heart.
“I move, therefore, that the Speaker of
the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, should step down
and assume office as Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly
and that the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, be promoted as the new
Speaker.”
He had noted that 17 members had supported the change of leadership.
But 18 members stood up for
identification in support of the motion, which was seconded by the
member representing Oredo West, Chris Okaeben.
While accepting the change, Ativie said
that her short stay in office recorded tremendous achievements as the
members worked as a team.
Ativie commended the lawmakers for giving her the opportunity to serve and urged them to accord same to her successor.
She said, “Although this is a huge a
difficult sacrifice to make, I believe that it should be done for the
sake of the people of Edo State. No sacrifice will be too big to pay in
meeting the yearning aspirations of or people, who elected us to this
House.
“Today, I bury my pride and my ambition
for the general good of the people and the state, through which I
emerged as a legislator.”
On his part, Okonoboh said that his emergency was a result of wide consultations within the All Progressives Congress
He noted that the new development was a House matter that was devoid of any interference from the governor.
He commended Ativie for her willingness
to step down in a manner unprecedented in the entire country, vowing
that all her appointments would remain valid
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