The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a motion on urgent public importance seeking the intervention of the Federal Government in the chieftaincy tussle rocking the Okpella community in the Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The motion was moved by the member representing Etsako East/Etsako West Federal Constituency, Edo State, Mr Dekeri Anamero.
Addressing the House during Thursday’s plenary session, Anamero lamented the loss of lives in Okpella owing to the violent reaction to the crowning of Lukman Akemokue as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella by Governor Godwin Obaseki, a fortnight ago.
As it were, the presentation of a staff of office to Akemokue has not gone down well with the people.
Consequently, while those in favour of the new king are celebrating, those against his choice have made their position public; a development that led to the outbreak of violence in the cement town last week.
Calling on the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, to mobilise his men to Okpella to restore peace, Anamero accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of installing Akemokue despite what he called the public outcry against his choice.
The Edo lawmaker, however, did not help matters when he blamed Obaseki’s behaviour “on a party that lost embarrassingly in the last governorship election.”
There was difficulty in getting a seconder to the motion, fuelling a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante to provide the basis for its rejection.
As Speaker Abbas sought for a seconder, Abiante interjected, saying, “Mr Speaker, you don’t have to preach to us to second the motion. If no one is seconding the motion, let the motion die.”
Turning to Anamero, the PDP lawmaker said, “You don’t have to insult senior citizens (apparent reference to Obaseki) of the country with your motion.”
After a voice vote was twice taken, Speaker Abbas ruled in favour of the nays.