Impeachment Notice: I Remain A Servant Leader – Speaker Agbebaku Insists

…Says members’ decisions are binding on him

By Simeon OSAJIE

Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku has stated that as the presiding officer of the Edo State 8th Assembly, he remains a servant to the other members and emphasising that their decisions are binding on him.

Agbebaku stated this today, 12th March, 2024 while addressing the executive members of the Catholic Department of Church and Society who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Chief Agbebaku in company of some Honourable Members while reacting to the group’s request for dialogue and peace regarding the impeachment notice served the deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, maintained that the impeachment notice was signed by twenty-one out of the twenty-four lawmakers, a decision he claimed could only be altered by the same twenty-one lawmakers.

While explaining further that as it was not within his powers to effect any change, Rt. Hon. Agbebaku disclosed that as Presiding officer of the 8th Assembly, he was not allowed to sign the impeachment notice in the first place.

He thanked the group for the visit and their stance on the promotion of peace and good governance advocacy in the state.

Earlier, the leader of the group and president of the Catholic Department of Church and Society, Edo State Chapter, Mr. Steve Adewole Apologun, who led other members of the group thanked the Speaker for granting them the opportunity to discuss the political disagreements and the impeachment notice served to the deputy governor.

He sued for caution over the impeachment move so that the legislative responsibilities are not perceived as a political witch-hunt against the deputy governor.

He called for a careful approach on the matter with a focus on dialogue and peace to avoid creating further tension in the state as the gubernatorial elections is around the corner.