The protracted crisis rocking the Ogun State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, took another dimension as the Group of 15 legislators, suspended on Monday last week by nine legislators loyal to the state governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel was reported to have held a plenary session in Ijebu-Ode, where a vote of no confidence was passed in the governor.
The G15, led by Honourable Tunji Egbetokun, during the session accused Governor Daniel of being the brains behind the entire crisis rocking the legislative arm since the impeachment of Honourable Titi Oseni, in May 2008.
The lawmakers, in the resolution passed during the sitting, accused the governor of aiding and abetting illegality in the state and for non-compliance with the state laws and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The resolution read: ”The House resolved and passed a vote of no confidence in the governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for aiding and abetting illegality in the state, for mismanaging of public funds, for sponsoring violence and violent gangs in the state and for non-compliance with state laws and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The lawmakers also resolved that the standing order of the House be suspended indefinitely.
The G-15 lawmakers were reported to have called on the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Daura and the Director of the State Security Service (SSS), to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of the nine lawmakers, who they accused of breaking into the hallowed chamber of the House to hold what they described as “illegal sitting” on Monday last week.
One of the resolutions of the G-15 was the indefinite suspension of the Speaker, Honourable Soyemi Coker and other principal officers of his group, including the deputy speaker, Mr Ayo Edward-Odugbesan, Majority Leader, Honourable Tolulope Bankole and Honourable Abiodun Oluseyi Moses.
Other lawmakers in the G-9 faction/including Honourables David Kojeku, Musa Maruf, Joseph Adegbesan and Salmon Adeleke got three months suspension each.
The G-15 also declared the seats of Honourable Titi Oseni and Honourable Omosanya Solaja, who were suspended by the Egbetokun-led leadership but were recalled by the nine lawmakers at their sitting last week, vacant.
It added, “The House resolved that in line with Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution that the seat of the following members Hon. Titi Oseni and Omosanya Solaja be declared vacant by the Speaker and it has been so declared.”
They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-election to fill the two vacant seats.
The Majority Leader in the G-15 faction, Honourable Michael Fasinu, who spoke with newsmen on the telephone, confirmed that the group met, saying that they has done nothing unusual by sitting outside the hallowed chamber.
He contended that the House, on two occasions, sat at the Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, where Governor Daniel was present, stating that there was an already a laid down precedent to what they did.
Fasinu explained that the important issue in the matter was the mace which was the House’s symbol of authority, adding that they used the mace at their Tuesday’s sitting.
In a swift reaction, the deputy speaker in the G-9 faction, Honourable Ayo Edward-Odugbesan, said the purported sitting of the 15 suspended lawmakers was a comedy — “Baba Sala show,” adding that the only authorised place for members of state legislature to sit was the state House of Assembly.
According to him, “anything contrary is null and void and should be disregarded, as stated by the Supreme Court in Joshua Dariye’s case.
“If they are not satisfied with the decision of Ogun State House of Assembly, where they were suspended on Monday last week, they should go to court. Also they cannot sit without the Clerk, the mace (which is within the assembly complex) and the staff of the assembly who are to write the reports/hazards.
“The legislature makes laws, the judiciary interprets and the executive implements. Who will implement law/resolution made in “beer parlour” in Ijebu Ode?”
Employees of Ogun House of Assembly were again on Tuesday barred from entering the Assembly complex by policemen.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the workers were prevented from resuming work on Monday after the Sallah break.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ogun crisis: ACN aspirant advocates change in governance
A governorship aspirant under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria in Ogun State, Mr. Kayode Soyinka, has urged the people to consider the ongoing political crisis rocking the state as a good opportunity to effect desired change and progress which had been made impossible by the Peoples Democratic Party-led government in the last eight years.
Soyinka, who had consistently advocated the return of Ogun State to the progressive fold, described the long-drawn battle between the executive and legislative arms in the state as not only unfortunate but shameful, given that the state had produced illustrious citizens in various spheres of life who have done the country proud locally and internationally.
The ACN aspirant, whose campaign theme is “Rebirth 2011”, said that the present leadership in the state has failed to show the sense of responsibility required to rescue the people from the debilitating poverty which has grinded the state’s economy to a virtual halt.
Soyinka, who had consistently advocated the return of Ogun State to the progressive fold, described the long-drawn battle between the executive and legislative arms in the state as not only unfortunate but shameful, given that the state had produced illustrious citizens in various spheres of life who have done the country proud locally and internationally.
The ACN aspirant, whose campaign theme is “Rebirth 2011”, said that the present leadership in the state has failed to show the sense of responsibility required to rescue the people from the debilitating poverty which has grinded the state’s economy to a virtual halt.
We are not desperate for N100bn bond — Daniel
Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel on Monday said that the decision of his administration to raise a N100bn bond was based on sound financial and fiscal projections.
The governor, who added that the state government would not show any desperation in order to access it, spoke at the formal presentation of the master plan and of the Abeokuta Central Business District on Monday.
According to him, “In spite of the consent given by the state House of Assembly, the government will adopt a wait-and-see attitude, especially because of the needless controversy the bond matter had generated.
“This was due mainly to the way the former leadership of the house treated what was essentially a fiscal measure.”
At the event were the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; leaders of the private sector, bankers and a cross-section of the Ogun State society.
Daniel said that the inability of the state to access the bond market at the appropriate time was costing the government about N400m monthly, being the cost of the high interest rate it was paying on the facility used to finance existing infrastructure such as the multi-billion naira new secretariat building and other major developmental projects in the state.
He said if his administration did not take the bond, the succeeding one would seek one because that was the only way to maintain the pace of development and finance projects and growing expenditure in the state.
Daniel added that the people of the state should brace up for the consequences if the bond was not eventually accessed during his tenure.
He said his administration was not desperate to access the bond market at all costs.
He said it was wrong for people to insinuate that the bond was being sought in the twilight of his administration, noting that the process actually started in 2007 while all relevant documentation and notification was concluded in 2008.
On the ACBD, the governor said it was the anchor project for the urban renewal scheme in the state. He said the relocation of the old secretariat was in tandem with the new master plan of the state and was meant to free high net worth land projected to fetch the state about N10bn when it is eventually taken up by the private sector.
He said the ACBD would also generate employment and make Abeokuta a befitting capital.
The lead consultant to the project, Mr. Oluwole Olumide, said the business district would give a new lease of life to Abeokuta and add value to the property market in the state.
However, the impeached Speaker of the Assembly, Mr.Tunji Egbetokun, faulted the governor on the bond in a telephone interview.
According to him, “The sttaement is an irony, it is a parody. If he says he is not desperate, he should have allowed the debate on the bond to come up and not masterminded the sitting on Monday.
“We have been harrassed and intimidated because of this bond. He should have said that earlier on.
“He should not have even presented it in the first instance if he was not desperate about it. He could say that before now.”
The governor, who added that the state government would not show any desperation in order to access it, spoke at the formal presentation of the master plan and of the Abeokuta Central Business District on Monday.
According to him, “In spite of the consent given by the state House of Assembly, the government will adopt a wait-and-see attitude, especially because of the needless controversy the bond matter had generated.
“This was due mainly to the way the former leadership of the house treated what was essentially a fiscal measure.”
At the event were the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; leaders of the private sector, bankers and a cross-section of the Ogun State society.
Daniel said that the inability of the state to access the bond market at the appropriate time was costing the government about N400m monthly, being the cost of the high interest rate it was paying on the facility used to finance existing infrastructure such as the multi-billion naira new secretariat building and other major developmental projects in the state.
He said if his administration did not take the bond, the succeeding one would seek one because that was the only way to maintain the pace of development and finance projects and growing expenditure in the state.
Daniel added that the people of the state should brace up for the consequences if the bond was not eventually accessed during his tenure.
He said his administration was not desperate to access the bond market at all costs.
He said it was wrong for people to insinuate that the bond was being sought in the twilight of his administration, noting that the process actually started in 2007 while all relevant documentation and notification was concluded in 2008.
On the ACBD, the governor said it was the anchor project for the urban renewal scheme in the state. He said the relocation of the old secretariat was in tandem with the new master plan of the state and was meant to free high net worth land projected to fetch the state about N10bn when it is eventually taken up by the private sector.
He said the ACBD would also generate employment and make Abeokuta a befitting capital.
The lead consultant to the project, Mr. Oluwole Olumide, said the business district would give a new lease of life to Abeokuta and add value to the property market in the state.
However, the impeached Speaker of the Assembly, Mr.Tunji Egbetokun, faulted the governor on the bond in a telephone interview.
According to him, “The sttaement is an irony, it is a parody. If he says he is not desperate, he should have allowed the debate on the bond to come up and not masterminded the sitting on Monday.
“We have been harrassed and intimidated because of this bond. He should have said that earlier on.
“He should not have even presented it in the first instance if he was not desperate about it. He could say that before now.”
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ogun crisis: President’s intervention ends in stalemate
click to expand image
President Goodluck Jonathan
Efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the crisis in the Ogun State House of Assembly have ended in a stalemate, with both side refusing to shift ground.
Investigations on Thursday showed that the President met separately with the two factions in Abuja on Wednesday night, as part of efforts to resolve the crises in the House and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Nine members of the House had on Monday impeached the Speaker, Mr. Tunji Egetokun, and suspended 14 of their colleagues. The nine members subsequently appointed Mr. Soyemi Coker as the new speaker.
Our correspondent gathered that members of Egbetokun’s faction, known as Group 15, met with the President on Wednesday after attending a meeting with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, at the headquarters of the party.
The G-15 meeting, which was attended by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jibril Martins-Kuye, and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dave Salako, started at 8pm and ended at midnight.
It was also learnt that the meeting of the rival group was attended by the state governor, Otunba Gbenhga Daniel; the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Joju Fadairo; and 11 members of the group. The meeting started at 1am and ended at 4:30am on Thursday
A lawmaker, who attended the G-15 meeting, said the division in the state chapter of the PDP and the crisis in the House were among issues discussed.
According to the member, who pleaded anonymity, the President explained why the national leadership of the part had not carried out the harmonisation of the state executive of the party.
The member quoted the President as saying, “The other faction has taken the matter to court and the leaders of the party do not want to disobey a court order.”
He stated that the President condemned the impeachment of Egbetokun and promised that the leaders of the party would ensure that sanity returned to the assembly.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information under Egetokun, Dr. Tokunbo Oshin, who confirmed the meeting, said, “The attitude of the President is that of a defender of democracy. He said what happened in Ogun State was capable of tarnishing the image of Nigerians in the comity of nations. He directed that the house should return to the status quo before Monday.”
But a member of the rival group said that the President did not direct the House to reverse the removal of Egbetokun and suspension of their 14 colleagues.
The member, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We told the President that we were opposed to the harmonisation of the state executive of the PDP because the other faction was part of the process that led to the emergence of the Fadairo-led executive. The process was witnessed by Senator Ibrahim Mantu from the headquarters of the party. They cannot turn around and reject the process.”
“On the crisis, we explained that what happened on Monday was legal and that it was based on Order 15 of the house’s rules. We added that we formed a quorum, which is nine. The President reasoned with us, because what we did was in the interest of the state.”
One of the pro-Daniel lawmakers, Mr. Fasiu Bakene, who confirmed the meeting, said, “It is not true that the President said the removal of Egbetokun should be reversed. Coker is the authentic speaker. An evening newspaper had on Wednesday afternoon reported that Mr. President berated the governor (Daniel), when our meeting with the President did not start till early Thursday.”
However, a senior member of the PDP told our correspondent on the telephone that the party recognised Egbetokun as the authentic speaker of the assembly.
“The party recognises Egbetokun as the speaker. We are not in support of the actions taken by the Group of 11 lawmakers on Monday.
“We will do our best to reconcile them,” the source, who declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said.
However, Mr. Ike Abonyi, the media aide to the PDP national chairman, declined comments when our correspondent reached him on the telephone.
President Goodluck Jonathan
Efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the crisis in the Ogun State House of Assembly have ended in a stalemate, with both side refusing to shift ground.
Investigations on Thursday showed that the President met separately with the two factions in Abuja on Wednesday night, as part of efforts to resolve the crises in the House and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Nine members of the House had on Monday impeached the Speaker, Mr. Tunji Egetokun, and suspended 14 of their colleagues. The nine members subsequently appointed Mr. Soyemi Coker as the new speaker.
Our correspondent gathered that members of Egbetokun’s faction, known as Group 15, met with the President on Wednesday after attending a meeting with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, at the headquarters of the party.
The G-15 meeting, which was attended by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jibril Martins-Kuye, and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dave Salako, started at 8pm and ended at midnight.
It was also learnt that the meeting of the rival group was attended by the state governor, Otunba Gbenhga Daniel; the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Joju Fadairo; and 11 members of the group. The meeting started at 1am and ended at 4:30am on Thursday
A lawmaker, who attended the G-15 meeting, said the division in the state chapter of the PDP and the crisis in the House were among issues discussed.
According to the member, who pleaded anonymity, the President explained why the national leadership of the part had not carried out the harmonisation of the state executive of the party.
The member quoted the President as saying, “The other faction has taken the matter to court and the leaders of the party do not want to disobey a court order.”
He stated that the President condemned the impeachment of Egbetokun and promised that the leaders of the party would ensure that sanity returned to the assembly.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information under Egetokun, Dr. Tokunbo Oshin, who confirmed the meeting, said, “The attitude of the President is that of a defender of democracy. He said what happened in Ogun State was capable of tarnishing the image of Nigerians in the comity of nations. He directed that the house should return to the status quo before Monday.”
But a member of the rival group said that the President did not direct the House to reverse the removal of Egbetokun and suspension of their 14 colleagues.
The member, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We told the President that we were opposed to the harmonisation of the state executive of the PDP because the other faction was part of the process that led to the emergence of the Fadairo-led executive. The process was witnessed by Senator Ibrahim Mantu from the headquarters of the party. They cannot turn around and reject the process.”
“On the crisis, we explained that what happened on Monday was legal and that it was based on Order 15 of the house’s rules. We added that we formed a quorum, which is nine. The President reasoned with us, because what we did was in the interest of the state.”
One of the pro-Daniel lawmakers, Mr. Fasiu Bakene, who confirmed the meeting, said, “It is not true that the President said the removal of Egbetokun should be reversed. Coker is the authentic speaker. An evening newspaper had on Wednesday afternoon reported that Mr. President berated the governor (Daniel), when our meeting with the President did not start till early Thursday.”
However, a senior member of the PDP told our correspondent on the telephone that the party recognised Egbetokun as the authentic speaker of the assembly.
“The party recognises Egbetokun as the speaker. We are not in support of the actions taken by the Group of 11 lawmakers on Monday.
“We will do our best to reconcile them,” the source, who declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said.
However, Mr. Ike Abonyi, the media aide to the PDP national chairman, declined comments when our correspondent reached him on the telephone.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
It’s illegal, say lawyers
Lawyers yesterday reacted to the purported impeachment of the Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, and the subsequent approval of the controversial N100 billion bond.
They said the nine lawmakers did not represent two-thirds of the members of the House required by the Constitution to impeach a Speaker. Therefore, whatever action or decision they took was would be null and void.
Those who spoke included former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN); Chief Chris Ngige (SAN) and Lagos lawyer Mr Bamidele Aturu.
Akeredolu said the lawmakers’ action amounted to an illegality, and whatever decision the nine members took would not stand.
He urged the "impeached" Speaker to ignore the members’ action and to convene a proper sitting of the House.
"That is absolute illegality. Whatever decision they take cannot stand. Their decisions or whatever approval they give cannot be recognised. The Speaker should ignore the development and convene a proper sitting of the House. Whatever decision this group could have taken, in my view, will remain an illegality," Akeredolu said.
Akintola, when told about the lawmakers’ actions, burst into laughter. He described their action as "the height of absurdity".
He said: "My brother, you should have kept me out of this because I don’t even know what to say. It is not just an illegality, it’s an absurdity. I can only describe it as the height of absurdity. They will sort it out in court."
Ngige said what was happening in Ogun was the law of Karma at work against former President Olusegun Obasanjo who hails from the state.
According to him, Obasanjo sowed and nurtured the seed of crisis in Anambra State when he was in power. Now, the same scenario is playing out in his home state.
"Obasanjo sowed the seed of violence in Anambra. Now he is reaping the same reward in his state. Our people say that a child who does not allow his parents to sleep will not sleep.
"Obasanjo is supposed to be a father to his people, but nobody is listening to him because he has no respect among his people. That is the nemesis that I am talking about."
Ngige added that whatever resolutions made by a group of lawmakers who do not form a sufficient majority would be null and void.
Aturu said if it was true that only nine of the 26 members of the House impeached the Speaker, then it violated Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a Speaker can only be removed by a resolution passed by not less than two-third of the members of the House.
"This refers to two-thirds of the whole members of the House, not of a faction. If it is true that only nine members impeached the Speaker, then it cannot stand in court, if the Speaker takes up the matter.
"I can only describe the nine lawmakers’ action as legislative brigandage, and it’s time we put an end to such acts. I condemn it unreservedly. It is a very shameful act," Aturu said.
They said the nine lawmakers did not represent two-thirds of the members of the House required by the Constitution to impeach a Speaker. Therefore, whatever action or decision they took was would be null and void.
Those who spoke included former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN); Chief Chris Ngige (SAN) and Lagos lawyer Mr Bamidele Aturu.
Akeredolu said the lawmakers’ action amounted to an illegality, and whatever decision the nine members took would not stand.
He urged the "impeached" Speaker to ignore the members’ action and to convene a proper sitting of the House.
"That is absolute illegality. Whatever decision they take cannot stand. Their decisions or whatever approval they give cannot be recognised. The Speaker should ignore the development and convene a proper sitting of the House. Whatever decision this group could have taken, in my view, will remain an illegality," Akeredolu said.
Akintola, when told about the lawmakers’ actions, burst into laughter. He described their action as "the height of absurdity".
He said: "My brother, you should have kept me out of this because I don’t even know what to say. It is not just an illegality, it’s an absurdity. I can only describe it as the height of absurdity. They will sort it out in court."
Ngige said what was happening in Ogun was the law of Karma at work against former President Olusegun Obasanjo who hails from the state.
According to him, Obasanjo sowed and nurtured the seed of crisis in Anambra State when he was in power. Now, the same scenario is playing out in his home state.
"Obasanjo sowed the seed of violence in Anambra. Now he is reaping the same reward in his state. Our people say that a child who does not allow his parents to sleep will not sleep.
"Obasanjo is supposed to be a father to his people, but nobody is listening to him because he has no respect among his people. That is the nemesis that I am talking about."
Ngige added that whatever resolutions made by a group of lawmakers who do not form a sufficient majority would be null and void.
Aturu said if it was true that only nine of the 26 members of the House impeached the Speaker, then it violated Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a Speaker can only be removed by a resolution passed by not less than two-third of the members of the House.
"This refers to two-thirds of the whole members of the House, not of a faction. If it is true that only nine members impeached the Speaker, then it cannot stand in court, if the Speaker takes up the matter.
"I can only describe the nine lawmakers’ action as legislative brigandage, and it’s time we put an end to such acts. I condemn it unreservedly. It is a very shameful act," Aturu said.
Ogun Crisis Worsens as Faction Suspends Speaker
•Egbetokun: It’s illegal
Another drama was yesterday introduced into the prolonged Ogun State political crisis as a faction of the House of Assembly announced the suspension of the Speaker, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun, over what it called “gross misconduct against the state and its citizenry”. He was replaced by Hon. Emmanuel Soyemi Coker.
The new Speaker immediately issued a statement saying the House had suspended with immediate effect Egbetokun along with 14 other members.
He said the action taken by his colleagues and him was “necessitated by the cry of various constituents to bail out Ogun State from lingering crisis that has beset us for the last two to three years”.
The statement, which was signed by 10 members of the House, stated that the state had been thrown into confusion “through the unpatriotic acts of a section of the honourable House of Assembly”.
The suspended lawmakers, according to him, are Egbetokun, Remmy Hazzan, Michael Sewedo, Nasir Isiaka, Adiro Olufemi, Adegboyega Adekunle, Odunjo Odunleye, Olusola Adeboye, Akintan Olufemi, Fatoki Johnson Olu, Adeleye-Oladapo Tunrayo, Oshin Babatunde, Alausa Olawale, Salami Akeem and Abiodun Akovoyon.
But reacting to the development, Egbetokun told journalists that the suspension was illegal, saying “those who said they suspended us are just eight members and even if they were 11, they can’t remove the speaker”.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, along with 13 of the suspended legislators, Egbetokun said the eight lawmakers did not constitute the required quorum to impeach a speaker.
“Section 92 subsection 3 of the constitution provides that, to suspend a speaker will require approval of two-thirds of the members of the House.
“Out of 26 members of the House, only eight were part of the impeachment, which is fewer than what is required to remove a speaker from office,” he said.
Egbetokun described the impeachment as a charade which should be disregarded, maintaining that the House remained adjourned till the end of its recess.
He alleged that the eight legislators impeached him and suspended 14 others at about 6:30am while the House was deliberating on the state’s supplementary budget bill before it.
He also alleged that the eight members came into the assembly complex in company with some policemen.
He added: “I don’t want to join issues with them; we are on top of the situation. The regime of President Goodluck Jonathan will never accommodate this type of illegality. We’ll fight back in the next 24 hours.
According to him, the move was to scuttle the public debate the House called for over the N100 billion bond, noting that “they know the debate will open everything the governor did in the last seven years”.
Meanwhile, the new faction has also reviewed and lifted the suspension of Hon. Titi Oseni and Hon. Omosanya Solaja, saying it was unnecessary and unjust.
It named the new members “elected to lead the state house of assembly”, stressing that “it is a collective decision that legislation is for development and not otherwise”.
They are Hon. Ayo Edwards-Odugbesan (Deputy Speaker), Hon. Tolu Bankole (Majority Leader), Hon. Musa Moruf (Chief Whip), Hon. Abiodun Oluseyi Moses (Deputy Majority Leader) and Hon. Adeleke Salmon (Deputy Chief Whip).
It also approved the 2010 supplementary budget of N26 billion and also vacated the House Resolution 167 barring all financial institutions from giving out loans to the state government.
Other issues resolved by the faction included the nomination of Elder Yemi Akinwonmi who it found suitable to be appointed as a state commissioner.
However, the suspension has continued to generate reactions in the state as the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Mr. Gani Adams, in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday quoted an African proverb that says “when the shadow of a tree is bent and you want to straighten it, you go for the tree and not the shadow”. He said he was in support of the action in the assembly.
Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the new leadership of the assembly on its election of a new leadership.
The state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Musa Daura, who later visited the assembly premises, was also seen at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) around 11.30am, where a press conference was earlier scheduled. It was later held at the private residence of one of the lawmakers.
Another drama was yesterday introduced into the prolonged Ogun State political crisis as a faction of the House of Assembly announced the suspension of the Speaker, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun, over what it called “gross misconduct against the state and its citizenry”. He was replaced by Hon. Emmanuel Soyemi Coker.
The new Speaker immediately issued a statement saying the House had suspended with immediate effect Egbetokun along with 14 other members.
He said the action taken by his colleagues and him was “necessitated by the cry of various constituents to bail out Ogun State from lingering crisis that has beset us for the last two to three years”.
The statement, which was signed by 10 members of the House, stated that the state had been thrown into confusion “through the unpatriotic acts of a section of the honourable House of Assembly”.
The suspended lawmakers, according to him, are Egbetokun, Remmy Hazzan, Michael Sewedo, Nasir Isiaka, Adiro Olufemi, Adegboyega Adekunle, Odunjo Odunleye, Olusola Adeboye, Akintan Olufemi, Fatoki Johnson Olu, Adeleye-Oladapo Tunrayo, Oshin Babatunde, Alausa Olawale, Salami Akeem and Abiodun Akovoyon.
But reacting to the development, Egbetokun told journalists that the suspension was illegal, saying “those who said they suspended us are just eight members and even if they were 11, they can’t remove the speaker”.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, along with 13 of the suspended legislators, Egbetokun said the eight lawmakers did not constitute the required quorum to impeach a speaker.
“Section 92 subsection 3 of the constitution provides that, to suspend a speaker will require approval of two-thirds of the members of the House.
“Out of 26 members of the House, only eight were part of the impeachment, which is fewer than what is required to remove a speaker from office,” he said.
Egbetokun described the impeachment as a charade which should be disregarded, maintaining that the House remained adjourned till the end of its recess.
He alleged that the eight legislators impeached him and suspended 14 others at about 6:30am while the House was deliberating on the state’s supplementary budget bill before it.
He also alleged that the eight members came into the assembly complex in company with some policemen.
He added: “I don’t want to join issues with them; we are on top of the situation. The regime of President Goodluck Jonathan will never accommodate this type of illegality. We’ll fight back in the next 24 hours.
According to him, the move was to scuttle the public debate the House called for over the N100 billion bond, noting that “they know the debate will open everything the governor did in the last seven years”.
Meanwhile, the new faction has also reviewed and lifted the suspension of Hon. Titi Oseni and Hon. Omosanya Solaja, saying it was unnecessary and unjust.
It named the new members “elected to lead the state house of assembly”, stressing that “it is a collective decision that legislation is for development and not otherwise”.
They are Hon. Ayo Edwards-Odugbesan (Deputy Speaker), Hon. Tolu Bankole (Majority Leader), Hon. Musa Moruf (Chief Whip), Hon. Abiodun Oluseyi Moses (Deputy Majority Leader) and Hon. Adeleke Salmon (Deputy Chief Whip).
It also approved the 2010 supplementary budget of N26 billion and also vacated the House Resolution 167 barring all financial institutions from giving out loans to the state government.
Other issues resolved by the faction included the nomination of Elder Yemi Akinwonmi who it found suitable to be appointed as a state commissioner.
However, the suspension has continued to generate reactions in the state as the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Mr. Gani Adams, in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday quoted an African proverb that says “when the shadow of a tree is bent and you want to straighten it, you go for the tree and not the shadow”. He said he was in support of the action in the assembly.
Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the new leadership of the assembly on its election of a new leadership.
The state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Musa Daura, who later visited the assembly premises, was also seen at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) around 11.30am, where a press conference was earlier scheduled. It was later held at the private residence of one of the lawmakers.
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