From Tony Osauzo, Benin

The politics of the speakership of the Edo State House of Assembly has torn traditional rulers in Edo State apart, as monarchs from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state yesterday dissociated themselves from the resolution of their colleagues from Edo North and Central senatorial districts, who recently called for the return of the speakership of the State House of Assembly to Edo Central.

Recall that some traditional rulers from the two senatorial districts had met at the palace ot the Otaru of Auchi, Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111 where they condemned the impeachment of Justin Okonoboh as speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the subsequent emergence of Kabiru Adjoto as the new speaker.

The traditional rulers also called for the return of the speakership to the Edo Central Senatorial District to balance the political leadership equation of the state.

But yesterday, members of the Akoko-Edo Traditional Council, who were at the Edo State House of Assembly to pay solidarity visit to the new speaker as well as appreciated the state’s legislators for their wise decision, noted that the appointment of the new speaker had broken the jinx and emerging as the first speaker from the locality.

The chairman of Akoko-Edo traditional council, Eshimokhai Idogu 111,  the Olokpe of Okpe, who spoke for other 10 traditional rulers, said the local government which is the oldest in the country had since the defunct Midwest region, Bendel, now Edo state, never produced governor, deputy governor, speaker, deputy speaker of the state house of assembly.

He ‎said the emergence of  Adjoto Kabiru, following the impeachment of Justin Okonoboh as speaker has broken the jinx.

“We are traditional rulers from Akoko-Edo, the local government of the speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, Adjoto Kabiru. We are here for solidarity visit and to say that all the people of Akoko-Edo local government area are solidly behind him.

“We want to put on record that the Akoko-Edo traditional‎ rulers  do not recognize the so called Edo North traditional council. There is no law establishing Edo North traditional council. Each council is autonomous and whatever might have transpired in any palace or council we are not part of it. Therefore, we have called here to pay a solidarity visit to the new speaker and to assure him that we are solidly behind him”, he said.

Confirming that traditional rulers from Akoko-Edo were invited to the meeting that took place at the palace of Otaru of Auchi, Idogun pointed out that they were not subject to any traditional ruler as they were autonomous.

He said the resolutions of the meeting at Otaru palace were null, void and unconstitutional and not binding on them.

In his remark, the traditional ruler of Somorika, Sule Idaiye, Imah IV, urged other traditional rulers in the state to concentrate on challenges that are confronting their various domain instead of meddling in politics.

“We are traditional rulers and not legislator. Any traditional ruler that want to be a legislator should voluntarily resign his appointment and contest for election”, he said.

Responding, the Speaker, Adjoto Kabiru, thanked the traditional rulers for the visit as well as appreciating the members for deeming him worthy to be the  speaker of the house.

He assured that his leadership will collaborate with the governor of the state to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.