Lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly have issued an ultimatum to the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, to resign from office or be impeachment.
They gave the speaker until Sunday to put pen to paper, or be removed from office
Twenty-one of the 26 members of the House signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker over what they said was financial misconduct.
The Speaker was accused of diverting N44m from funds allocated for the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, stated on Wednesday the lawmakers had given the Speaker a few more days to resign, failing which he would be removed at the next plenary sitting.
He stressed 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 are 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 offence. 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 said the lawmakers would reconvene at the next plenary sitting to decide the Speaker’s fate.
When contacted, the embattled speaker denied the allegations, saying he was not aware of any impeachment notice.
(Ripples)