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Speaker of the Ogun
State House of Assembly, Tunji Egbetokun, yesterday led a group of
state leaders, including Iyabo Obasanjo, to the national leadership of
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to lobby for its intervention in
the legislative crisis that has crippled the state.

Though newsmen were
barred from covering the meeting at the office of the national
chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, sources at the meeting said Mr Egbetokun
gave his version of the events that led to the current crisis.

Mr Egbetokun, along
with 15 other members, were indefinitely suspended as Speaker on Monday
by nine members (one-third of the 26 representatives of the House).
Soyemi Coker was elected as the new Speaker.

He appealed to
party leaders to intervene, to prevent the opposition from taking
advantage of the crisis in the forthcoming general elections.

Address the problem

Speaking to newsmen
after the meeting, Doyin Okupe, a spokesman to former President,
Olusegun Obasanjo and supporter of Mr Egbetokun, said that the
intervention was important, as the party primaries and the general
election were just round the corner.

“As elders of the
party in the state, we feel very embarrassed by the development,” said
Mr Okupe. “You cannot explain the recent development where a group of
nine legislators will sack the speaker without having the required
two-thirds majority – and would sack the remaining members of the House
of Assembly. Is that possible?” Mr Nwodo promised to address the
situation.

“The party is no longer the party of yesterday where everybody can
take people for granted and do what they like,” he said. “The party
will delve into the matter to know the next steps to take.” Mr Daniel,
who was expected to have a meeting with Goodluck Jonathan yesterday,
swore in one of the new commissioners approved by the new speaker in
their brief ceremony on Monday, before he left for Abuja where he is
also spending time lobbying.