TheCable

Anselm Ojezua, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, says the state is not a colony of Abuja.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Ojezua said what is happening in the state assembly does not amount to crisis because the assembly is still functioning despite the “leadership issue”.

He said the party is taking steps to reconcile members and resolve the crisis, accusing the house of representatives worsened the problem.

The lower legislative chamber of the national assembly had asked Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, to seal up the state assembly over the crisis.

“It is true we are having issue in relation to the leadership of the house but it does not amount to a crisis because Edo is functioning,” he said.

“Even the house of assembly itself is also functioning, they have a leadership in place, they are working and there is no crisis.

“What we have is the house has been inaugurated, leadership has emerged, some members are not happy with it and are taking steps they feel is necessary to change what they cannot have.

“Some have gone to Abuja, to the court, as you can see. They have also gone to the national assembly; all that put together is to stimulate the prospect of a crisis but in Edo state, there is no crisis.

“Edo remains a sovereign part of Nigeria, we are contributing partners; we are not anybody’s houseboys.

“Edo is not a colony of the national assembly or anybody or of any entity. All these playing out is politics and will be resolved politically.”

He noted that the intervention of the national assembly has compounded the crisis in the state rather than solve it, adding that the state will do anything to “preserve our independence”.

“If you recall when the house was inaugurated, there were nine members, now we have twelve. A prospect that that number will increase,” he said.

“I think what has is now being an impediment to a peaceful resolution is the intervention of the national assembly; so if their intention is to come and help us in Edo, I think they have compounded it.

“The ordinary man on the street is seeing it as an alien invasion of our state as if Edo state is a colony of some people in Abuja, that is the impression and we are having a hard time convincing some people that is not the intention.”

On what the leadership of the party is doing to reconcile party members, he said: “We have been working with leaders of our party in terms of reconciliation, particularly leaders of those concerned. And I did say we are recording some progress; three other members have been sworn in to make the number 12.

“I believe that when the national assembly intervention dissipates, we will continue the process of reconciliation that we have started. We were on course until they interfered; we will resolve it.”