SAN FRANCISCO, August 17, (THEWILL) – Former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elisabeth Ativie, has told the new leadership of the Assembly that she has sold one of the official vehicles, a Lexus Jeep 2016 model, given to her when she was Speaker.
Ativie served as Speaker for 84 days after which she stepped down for Justin Okonoboh to emerge as Speaker while she was made Deputy Speaker.
However, Okonoboh and Ativie were both violently impeached on Monday by 16 lawmakers which prompted the Clerk of the Assembly, James Omoataman, to write Ativie seeking a return of the official vehicles allocated to her as a Deputy Speaker.
However, Ativie, in her reply through her Counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, said she has registered the vehicles in her name and that she acted as bonafide owner of the vehicles to sell one of them.
She revealed that the vehicles (one Prado Jeep, two Hilux vans, and one Lexus Jeep 2016 model) were permanently given to her by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole as compensation for the sacrifices she made to step down for Okonoboh.
She quoted part of the letter written by the former Governor informing her that the cars were hers.
“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,” she quoted the letter.
“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.”
Ativie then 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.
