21 Ondo lawmakers push to oust speaker over alleged OSOPADEC misconduct

-This is not about Aiyedatiwa – House spokesperson

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly deepened on Monday as 21 of the 26 members signed in support of the removal of Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.

The spokesperson of the Assembly, Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi, said the move was an internal decision and had no link with the Executive.

This follows allegations by Hon. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, representing Ilaje Constituency II, that N44 million released by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC, was mismanaged.

Fayemi-Obayelu accused the Speaker of involvement in the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for riverine communities in Ilaje Local Government Area.

She also claimed her investigation into the matter had attracted threats to her life, adding that she “narrowly escaped death” recently.

Speaking in Akure, the assembly spokesperson, Fabiyi, said the lawmakers had resolved that the Speaker should vacate office, but decided to brief Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa first to dispel insinuations that the planned removal was being orchestrated by the executive.

According to him, “We have resolved that Mr. Speaker should go. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, we felt we should meet with Mr. Governor,” Fabiyi said.  

“We took the resolution of members to him because when we acted previously, people accused us of being sponsored. We told the governor that this has nothing to do with him.

” This is about the Speaker’s conduct. He is the one leading us, and we no longer want him to lead us.

” Twenty-one members have already signed for his removal.”

Fabiyi attributed the crisis to the handling of the OSOPADEC budget, alleging that a resolution was prepared and presented as the decision of the House without the knowledge or approval of lawmakers.

“It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in the name of members without our knowledge.

Fabiyi added that ” It was stated that members had deliberated and agreed to it, whereas we did not. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting against,” he said.

He said the governor appealed for more time before lawmakers proceeded with further action.

Fabiyi warned that if the Speaker failed to resign after the period requested by the governor, lawmakers would invoke constitutional procedures to remove him from office.

On reports that the Speaker was still in possession of the Assembly’s mace, Fabiyi said it would not frustrate their plan.

“We are legislators. Don’t teach us our job. We know how to go about it when the time comes,” he said.