By Ayodele Oni
Despite intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the leadership crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly deepened on Wednesday as 21 of the 26 lawmakers insisted they would proceed with plans to remove the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, from office if he fails to resign before the weekend.
The lawmakers are accusing the Speaker of allegedly misappropriating the sum of ₦44 million released to the Assembly by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
Oladiji has, however, denied the allegation, describing it as false and unfounded.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Olatunji Fabiyi, confirmed the lawmakers’ position during a telephone interview with journalists, stating that the majority of members had already resolved to remove the Speaker, but delayed the process following the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
According to Fabiyi, the lawmakers met with the governor to explain that the move was an internal decision of the House and not politically motivated.
“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.
“We have taken the resolution of the members to him because when we made an earlier move, some people alleged that somebody was sponsoring us,” he said.
He added that the lawmakers wanted to make it clear to the governor that their grievances were solely against the Speaker’s leadership.
“So, to avoid such insinuations, the leadership of the House went to Mr. Governor to explain that this has nothing to do with him. This is about what Mr. Speaker has done, and we no longer want him to lead us.
“Twenty-one members have already signed for his removal. However, in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, and so that we are not seen as acting hastily, we met with Mr. Governor, who requested some time.”
Fabiyi maintained that the controversy stemmed from the handling of the OSOPADEC budget, alleging that a resolution was prepared and presented in the names of lawmakers without their knowledge or approval.
“This issue has nothing to do with Mr. Governor. It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in the names of members without our knowledge.
“It claimed that members had met, deliberated and adopted it as our resolution, which was not the case.
“That amounts to a criminal offence. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is exactly what we are fighting against. If anyone is protecting him, such a person is aiding and abetting what happened.
“If he fails to resign, we will remove him,” Fabiyi declared.
Responding to the allegations, the Office of the Speaker dismissed reports of an impending impeachment and denied that Oladiji had considered resigning.
In a statement issued by the Speaker’s office, the report alleging a leadership crisis and the alleged diversion of ₦44 million in OSOPADEC funds was described as “sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated.”
“The attention of the Office of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has been drawn to a sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated report alleging an ongoing leadership crisis, an impending impeachment threat and a contemplated resignation over an alleged ₦44 million OSOPADEC fund.
“We state unequivocally, without an atom of ambiguity, that Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji never contemplated resigning, nor is there any leadership crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly.
“The report is a total figment of the imagination of its authors and their nameless, cowardly sources.
“It is false, completely lacks merit, and is sponsored by desperate political detractors seeking to destabilise the legislative arm of government and heat up the polity,” the statement read.
Despite the Speaker’s denial, the 21 lawmakers maintained that they remain committed to the impeachment process should he refuse to voluntarily vacate office before the expiration of the deadline they have set.
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