I’ve sold my official vehicle, ex-Speaker tells Edo Assembly

Hon Ativie served as Speaker for 84 days after which she stepped down for Justin Okonoboh to emerge as Speaker for the purpose of balance of power among the three Senatorial districts. She was made Deputy Speaker to Okonoboh but both of them were violently impeached on Monday by 16 lawmakers. In a letter dated August 16 and signed by the Clerk of the Assembly, James Omoataman, Hon Ativie was asked to return the official vehicles allocated to her as a Deputy Speaker. The letter listed the vehicles to include one Prado Jeep, two Hilux vans, and one Lexus Jeep 2016 model. In her reply through her Counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, Hon Ativie said she has registered the vehicles in her name and that she acted as bonafide owner of the vehicles to sell one of them. Hon Ativie said the vehicles were permanently given to her by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole as compensation for the sacrifices she made to step down for Okonoboh. Ativie urged the Clerk of the Assembly to advice the House leadership properly as the vehicles were no longer official vehicles of the Edo State House of Assembly. She quoted part of the letter written by the former governor to read, I wish to convey “My compliments and recall the discussion between the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Executive branch on the geo -political stability of Edo State and the need to engender equity, fairness and sense of belonging amongst all sections and citizens of our dear state. ” Given the exceptional circumstances surrounding the issues and in an explicit acknowledgement of the enormous sacrifices you were required to make for the peace, security, stability and well-being of our beloved state, the official vehicles attached to the office of the Speaker are now yours ”]]>