Nigeria Content Online

Eleven
aggrieved legislators in the Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday
insisted that they would not return to the plenary until the recent
impeachment of the former speaker was reversed.

The leadership of
the Assembly was changed last month through an impeachment which swept
away the former speaker, Taofik Olawale Abdulsalam, and his deputy,
Mayowa Akinfolarin.

Since the
impeachment exercise was carried out, the eleven lawmakers, who are
members of the minority Peoples’ Democratic Party, have refused to join
their colleagues in legislative activities.

Speaking on behalf
of the eleven aggrieved lawmakers, Henry Akinsuroju, said his group
would not resume parliamentary sittings with their colleagues until due
process was followed in the removal of the erstwhile leadership of the
House.

According to him, the only way forward is for the lawmakers to adopt an acceptable and legal means of changing their leadership.

“The way out of the
crisis in the State House of Assembly is very simple,” he said.
“Everybody knows that the so-called impeachment at the House was not
properly carried out. The suspension of some members will also not
solve the problem. The House of Assembly could decide to change as many
as four speakers within one month. It is normal, but such exercise must
follow a due process.

“If there should be
a good working relationship among the lawmakers, the current leadership
of the House should be able to reach to their colleagues. The new
Speaker should not embark on any vendetta. He should ensure that what
is due to every member is released to him or her so that the crisis
will not further degenerate into a serious one.”

Absent for a cause

Another of the
aggrieved lawmakers said it was not possible for the current leadership
of the House to sanction the 11 lawmakers for shunning parliamentary
activities.

“I am not sure that
they (House leadership) could penalise us because, constitutionally, we
have the number of days that we have to sit in a session. A new session
has just started, and if I have not been with them for quite sometime,
I will be careful to ensure that I carried out my obligation to the
best of my ability,” said the lawmaker who did not want to be named.

“If the House is
not properly constituted, I cannot go there and sit because that will
be against my conscience. The Speaker has not reached out to the
aggrieved members. Rather, he embarked on a vendetta mission. My people
would not be happy if they see me among traitors. The people of
Ile-Oluji, who I am representing are no traitors. So I cannot afford to
be one.”

Filling the vacuum

Meanwhile, to
facilitate the smooth running of legislative business, the Assembly has
appointed Kele Bolodeoku, (PDP, Ese-Odo) and Oyebode Aladetan (PDP,
Ilaje I), as minority leader and minority whip respectively.

Speaker of the
Assembly, Samuel Adesina, who announced the appointment of the two
legislators at House plenary yesterday, said the decision to appoint
the new officers was to balance the positions as stipulated by the
rules of the House and the constitution.

Mr. Adesina said
the appointments would facilitate adequate representation of both the
majority and the minority in decision taking by principal officers.
Majority leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, said the appointment of the two
minority officers of the House was done in accordance with the
constitution of Nigeria.

Mr. Bolodeoku, on
behalf of his colleague who was absent, accepted the appointment and
promised to work for the progress of the legislature in the interest of
the people of the state.

He said they would take the necessary steps to restore good relationship between the House majority and the minority.