‘’Where Was Asiwaju When The Then Governor Adams Oshiomhole Removed The Roof Of The House Of Assembly’’ Admirer Richard Akionola Queries Tinubu’s Comments On Obaseki

Richard Akinola 11, one of the voices of reason in Nigeria and an admirer of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has queried the political leader’s position on the happenings in Edo State as regards the actions of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Akinola 11 in piece titled ‘’ TINUBU BOMBS OBASEKI’’ on his facebook page with a tied-back image of a report about Oshiomhole wrote

“It is the greatest possible assault on constitutional democracy and the rule of law and escalation of violence and tension in the state he purports to govern. Then, he imports sand and gravels to prevent access to the assembly complex…”

That was Asiwaju Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed on the Edo election. I had wished that Asiwaju would not get involved in the Edo political imbroglio but since he has thrown his hat in the ring, figuratively, this is my tentative reposte.

Where was Asiwaju when the then Governor Adams Oshiomhole removed the roof of the House of Assembly, in order to stave off impeachment plans? What did Asiwaju say? Why is Asiwaju silent on the purported inauguration of of the “Group of 17” in a private house, from where they purport to be holding plenary? I would refrain from joining issues with him on his political brinkmanship in Lagos, particularly when Obasanjo was bent on taking Lagos from him in 2003. I really wished he didn’t join the fray. Anyway, l know this is all politics and you have to support your candidate.

However, l wish to remind Asiwaju that he expressed similar sentiment in 2012 on the last day of the Ondo state governorship campaign of the ACN, where he made all manner of disparaging remarks on the person of Mimiko. That night, in one of my strategy sessions with Mimiko, l repeatedly told him that he MUST not reply Asiwaju during the grand finale of the Labour party rally next day. And of course, Mimiko won. I guess Asiwaju is toeing same path. It’s his right. He is a politician. But just wondering why he was silent on some people holding “legislative sessions” in a private house.

Well, let me just remind Asiwaju what the Supreme Court said in the case of former Oyo State Governor, Chief Rasheed Ladoja, over his impeachment which was declared as unconstitutional, legislative sessions held outside the parliamentary building, when the renegade legislators sat at De Rovans hotel, Ibadan.

Niki Tobi, JSC (as he then was) in his lead judgment, said inter alia: “It appears to me from the intention of the Constitution that the House of Assembly will sit in the building provided for it and for that purpose. By the provision of section 104 of the Constitution, the House shall sit for a period of not less than one hundred and eighty-one days in a year.

“By section 108(1), the Governor of a State may attend a meeting of the House of Assembly either to deliver an address on State affairs or to make such a statement on the policy of the government as he may consider to be of importance to the State.

“In my humble view, a community reading of the two sections show that the intention of the Constitution is to make the House of Assembly sit physically in the building provided for that purpose. If I am wrong and the appellants are right, it will then mean that the governor has to move to a hotel to address the members anytime the House sits”.