The legislators of the Ondo State House of Assembly who sacked the leadership of the House on the 9th of November have told the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at a meeting to resolve the Assembly crisis that the erstwhile speaker, Bamidele Oleyeloogun and his deputy, Iroju Ogundeji remain impeached.
According to the lawmakers in a statement signed by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo, he stated that the meeting which was conveyed at the instance of the Vice President was attended by the Governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as well as his counterpart from Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
The Majority Leader, however, disclosed that the aggrieved lawmakers were ready to return to the House after the intervention of Osibajo only if the impeached Speaker and his deputy stop presiding over the house.
He also revealed that the two lawmakers who had earlier denied to have signed the impeachment notice have admitted their involvement in the process.
In the statement obtained by DAILY POST, he stated that, “We wish to place it on record that following the Vice President’s and Gov Fayemi’s intervention, we had decided to return to Parliament and have a final resolution to the issues, at no time did we agree that Rt Hon Oleyeloogun and Rt Hon Iroju Ogundeji will continue to preside as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“It is instructive that the duo of Olajide and Oluyede who had earlier claimed that their signatures were forged admitted that the signatures on the Impeachment Notice were theirs. Needless to say, we shall approach a court of law for appropriate redress for defamation of our character.
“At the meeting with Governor Fayemi yesterday, we canvassed many positions, all of which seemed abhorrent to our Governor Akeredolu.
“We suggested that being clear that the erstwhile speaker and deputy speaker had lost the confidence of the majority of members, it is morally indefensible for them to remain in office and we, therefore, suggested that they be given a chance to resign honourably in the interest of the State.”
Araoyinbo further stated that all available options suggested that a new leadership should henceforth lead the house was rebuffed by Gov Akeredolu.
He, however, said that the governor agreed that all proceedings taken by the duo of Oleyeloogun and Iroju since the day they were impeached remain null and void.
“Again, and contrary to all democratic ethos, ethics and practice, we suggested that the Governor should nominate from amongst us a new leadership with whom he can be comfortable as most of us had expressed our unwillingness to be led by the duo. Yet again, he refused.
“We suggested that the entire House be dissolved and we are given a chance to vote in our new leaders since only 13 members had sat to elect the duo ab initio. This was also rejected by the Governor.
“The Governor, however, did say that every action taken by the impeached leadership since the beginning of this impasse must of necessity be deemed null and void. He opined that there was no clime where the minority would be competent or empowered to “discipline” the majority. And of course, all Bills passed into law as well as all their resolutions will isuffer the same fate.
“We further reminded Mr Governor that as per procedure and conventions of the House from which the embattled duo had benefited and which he had ratified in the past, the duo had been properly impeached and the onus lies on them to go and prove the contrary in a court of law.
While stating that the governor has given his assurance as regards their security upon resumption, he frowned at the manner at which Oleyeloogun-led faction snubbed the agreement they had at the meeting upon returning to the state.
“However, as earlier mentioned, we agreed to return to Parliament to seek ways in which we can have a final resolution in a Parliamentary meeting to be headed by the Majority Leader, Hon Araoyinbo Olugbenga Joseph. The Governor did agree that we could ensure and compel their resignation. He gave assurance that Idajo and his thugs will be withdrawn from the House and the security of all members will be guaranteed, although he was silent on the criminal nature of the first invasion of the State Assembly by Idajo and his ‘army’.
“It is with a rude shock that we heard of the hard-line stance maintained by the Oleyelogun-led faction at their illegal sitting of today, the 22nd November 2018 and their reiteration of their claim to have suspended some of us earlier on. This to us further underlines our conviction that they are not men of honour and integrity and are therefore not capable of leading the House.
“We wish to state that we are committed to the ideals of democracy and are committed to ensuring that the great people of Ondo State are not shortchanged in their just desire and expectation for the good things of life.
“We, however, maintain that the impeachment of Friday 9th November 2018 was duly and properly carried out as even their criers of forgery have been caught in their lies. The onus lies on those who maintain to the contrary to approach the courts of law,” the statement read.
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