*2Face’s Wife, Natasha, Emerges Minority Leader
CHAIRMAN of the five-man ad-hoc committee set up by the Edo House of Assembly to investigate its immediate past speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, Bright Iyamu, has promised a transparent and fair exercise, devoid of vendetta.
Speaking after the committee’s inauguration on Tuesday, August 18, in Benin, Iyamu, representing Orhionmwon South State Constituency, said the probe was a normal democratic process and not targeted at any individual.
He stated: “I want to let you know that it is not a witch-hunt. What you are seeing today, I would say, is the beauty of democracy.
“In democracy, the people choose you, when they are also tired of you, they will say, okay, you can go, let’s try somebody else.
“That is what happened. The allegations are not yet proven 100 per cent.
“I cannot measure some of them now, as we go forward, it will begin to unveil.”
Iyamu pledged to lead a thorough and open probe, noting: “For the former speaker, we are all one in the House of Assembly, but that does not mean we cannot do what we are asked to do.
“Today, I am the chairman of the committee. I will do my best to do a thorough job. The other four members and I will work together.
“We will strategise to make sure that we tell the world the real truth, only the truth.”
He hinted: “We will be looking at the finances. Most times finance is one thing that always causes problems in every organisation or institution. So, that is the first thing we will be looking at.
“We will be looking at whether a vehicle was bought or whatever, whether it went through due process or not.
“The former speaker is not my enemy; he is my friend, but when I am given a job to do, I do it diligently. We will make sure that the investigation is open.
“We will make everybody understand that this is an open policy. We are not trying to be vindictive.”
The committee is mandated to report back in two weeks, is to investigate allegations of corruption and inflated costs in the purchase of Lexus SUVs and Hilux trucks during Agbebaku’s tenure as speaker, within two weeks.
Recall that Agbebaku resigned from the position on Monday, August 17, following moves to impeach him by over two-third of the members, and was subsequent suspended over allegations of financial impropriety, bordering on inflation of procurement costs for official vehicles, including Lexus 570 SUVs and Hilux trucks meant for the lawmakers.
Following heated debates and mounting pressure from colleagues, Agbebaku resigned from office and the House immediately elected Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko Edo Constituency I, as the new Speaker, during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Osamwonye Atu.
Atu had earlier announced receipt of Agbebaku’s resignation letter, after which the member representing Esan South East Constituency, Sunday Ojiezele, nominated Idiaye for the position, seconded by the member representing Owan East Constituency, Eric Okaka.
The Clerk of the House subsequently administered the oath of office on Idiaye.
The House also considered a letter from the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking changes in the leadership of the majority caucus, nominating Ojiezele as Majority Leader, while Ojie Inegbebor, representing Igueben Constituency, was nominated as Deputy Majority Leader.
The lawmakers also approved a pending letter from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) nominating Natasha Osawaru as the new Minority Leader.
