Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole insists that he followed the rule of law in the swearing-in of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) Board and in the suspension of the Chairmen of Akoko Edo and Orhiomwhon Local Government Areas of the State.

The Governor, who was guest of a live television programme: ‘Good Morning from Benin” a pidgin English programme on Independent Television (ITV) in the state also said he had nothing to do with the removal of the former Speaker of the Assembly, Zakawanu Garuba.

According to the Governor, he was not served any court papers restraining him from swearing-in the SUBEB Board and since the Assembly had ratified the Board’s list, he did what he had to do by swearing-in the board.

He said the state public schools had been badly affected with the non-constitution of the SUBEB board and that the overriding public interest was of more importance to him than the interest of individuals.

On the removal of the former speaker, Governor Oshiomhole said he had nothing to do with it as it was purely an internal affair of the Assembly. He insisted that the Assembly is independent and not under his control. He challenged anybody who had any problem with the impeachment to go to court, maintaining that the impeachment notice he saw had sixteen signatories.

On the suspension of Akoko Edo and Orhiomwhon Local government Chairmen over alleged misuse of public funds, the Governor said he did so using the law passed by the State Assembly empowering him to so do. He maintained that the said law was passed by the Assembly when it was populated by PDP lawmakers and other past Governors in the state had invoked the law in the past to suspend Local Government Chairmen for various graft offences.

Speaking on the delay in paying monetary compensation to those affected by the road dualisation project on the Airport road, the Governor said the compensation money ready but that many of the houses affected are family houses with many people laying claims to them. He said Government will pay the compensation as soon as the right owners of the houses are identified.