The conflict in the Ondo State House of Assembly continues unresolved, with the majority of legislators issuing a Sunday ultimatum to Speaker Olamide Oladiji to quit or be impeached.
Twenty-one of the House’s 26 members have signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker, alleging financial malfeasance.
The speaker was accused of stealing N44 million from monies set aside for the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission’s budget reordering process.
Speaking with our correspondent by phone on Wednesday, Olatunji Fabiyi, chairman of the House Committee on Information, said members had given the speaker a few more days to resign, after which he would be dismissed at the next plenary session.
He emphasized that the governor had intervened in the matter but had allowed the lawmakers to carry out their legislative duties.
Fabiyi said, “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.
“And we have taken the resolution of the members to Mr. Governor. Because the one we did before, they were castigating us, saying somebody was sponsoring us.”
“So, to avoid that, the leadership of the House went to Mr. Governor to tell him that this one is not about him. This is what Mr. Speaker has done, and we don’t want him anymore. He is the one leading us, and we don’t want him to lead us again.
“Twenty-one members have signed for his removal. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, not to make it appear as if we were striking too quickly, we went to Mr. Governor.
“Mr. Governor requested some time. On this issue, we don’t have any problem with Mr. Governor. It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in the name of members without our knowledge. It was stated that members had sat down and agreed to it and that it was our resolution, which it was not.
“It is a criminal offense. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting for.
“So, if somebody is protecting him, it means that person is aiding and abetting him. We are giving him till Sunday. If he fails to resign, we will remove him.”
The House spokesman stated that the legislators would gather at the next plenary session to decide the Speaker’s fate.
On Monday, a member of the House, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the Speaker and his deputy misappropriated N44 million intended for OSOPADEC’s budget reorganization.
He also alleged that the Speaker reordered the OSOPADEC budget without carrying other members along.
The lawmaker confirmed, “Yes, we are removing him. We just want him to resign honorably, and, if he fails to do so, we will impeach him on the floor of the House. We have initiated an impeachment notice, and 21 members have already signed.
“We started the process about three weeks ago, but the governor has been talking to us, which is why we delayed it. But now, the governor has advised him to resign. When we met with him. So, we are removing him.”
However, the embattled speaker denied the allegations, saying he was not aware of any impeachment notice.
