by Adeniyi Abdul

Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson has spoken out about his impeachment, revealing that he was caught by surprise.

Benson had been impeached in June by a group of lawmakers led by his former Deputy Speaker,Mr. Fini Angaye. The impeachment had been so controversial it led to anti-riot policemen sealing off Bayelsa State House of Assembly, but the Speaker was reinstated a week later, after the two factions in the House of Assembly, led by Mr. Fini Angaye and the Speaker, Benson, met with the governor and the party leaders and declared a truce.

Addressing the lawmakers on Friday at the House in Yenagoa, the Speaker said, “The issue of my impeachment came at a time I did not expect it. And I believe at that time till this moment, I have never in any way proved myself wrong. I have never attempted to take anybody’s money or whichever thing that does not belong to me.

“I have always guided my administration with the laws and rules that are provided in this House.” he continued. “My silence on the issue during the impeachment process was just because of my resolve that we should go together.

“I intended not to take issues with my accusers; hence, I decided to be silent. That was because the co-existence of this House was paramount, and the restoration programme that the governor has been preaching was foremost in my mind.

“I want to state here that, if any member of this House is dissatisfied with whatever I have done or may do in my official capacity as speaker of this House, such should be brought to my notice as there are constitutional means and methods to seek and to ask for whatever you feel you have not been provided with or in whichever area you intend to achieve your respective goals.”

Okay.