Ondo Assembly Goes For The Jugular: Suspends Two Members

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

In its bid to get the required two third majority to impeach the Deputy Governor, Ondo State House of Assembly, at its plenary on Wednesday, announced the suspension of three of its members.

Those suspended for unruly behaviour, according to the Assembly, are the Deputy Speaker, Hon.Irioju Ogundeji, from Odigbo Constituency-one, Hon Favour Tomomewo from Ilaje constituency-2, and Hon Adewale Williams from Ondo west constituency

However, the House Majority leader, Hon Suleiman Jamiu Maito, one of the anti- impeachment lawmakers, resigned as the house leader.

Leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, from his constituency had earlier disowned him for backing the state deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

The ‘unruly behaviour’ of the lawmakers could not be defined by the house, but seen onlookers as a ploy to discipline them for their stand against the impeachment.

Two of the legislators, Ogundeji and Tomomewo are from the same senatorial districts of the deputy governor.

Eighteen of the 26 members of the assembly will make the constitutional two third majority to impeach the deputy governor.

The deputy governor, through his Media Adviser, Mr Allen Sowore, has written to the state Chief Judge, Justice O. Akeredolu, advising him to be steadfast and shun any attempt to lure him into the Assembly’s impeachment move.

The Chief Judge is expected to constitute a panel to look into allegations against the Deputy Governor and determine his guilt.

“This open letter is coming to you at this auspicious time because of the sacred role you may have to play in the imminent plan by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN to remove his Deputy, Alfred Agboola Ajayi by all means possible and at all cost. The government’s position is not hidden; it is already in the public space.

“It’s needless mentioning the level of desperation which Mr Governor has show on this vexatious matter because history already has a place for his hypocritical stance in the law profession being a former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). But Your Lordship, you have a name and integrity to protect.

“If there’s any time the good people of Ondo State need your integrity, it’s now! And the reason is not far-fetched as the Governor has succeeded in compromising his party’s leadership in the state; the legislature. However, we, the people of Ondo State, still hold this believe that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

“All discerning minds in Ondo State know today, that the next line of action is that the Governor in his desperation will bring into full force the enomous power and influence of his office to bear on Your Lordship to join in this illegal arrangements to oust the Deputy Governor. He will attempt to force Your Lordship to appoint a panel of seven persons to do the hatchet job.

“Your Lordship, please do not compromise so that history will be kind to you. History, we say, will surely vindicate the just and the wicked will surely be punished”.