Ondo lawmakers deny Aiyedatiwa’s involvement in move to impeach speaker

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday denied claims that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was behind the plot to remove the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, insisting that the leadership crisis within the legislature was an internal matter.

The assembly’s spokesman and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said the lawmakers independently resolved to seek the speaker’s removal before informing the governor of their decision.

Fabiyi explained that the meeting with Aiyedatiwa was meant to dispel public speculation that the governor was sponsoring the move, stressing that the executive played no role in the lawmakers’ decision.

“We had already agreed that the speaker should leave office before meeting the governor. We only briefed him because some people were alleging that he was behind the move. We made it clear that the matter has nothing to do with him,” Fabiyi said.

According to him, the governor merely appealed to the lawmakers to allow more time before taking further action, adding that the speaker had been given until Sunday to resign or face impeachment proceedings.

Fabiyi attributed the crisis to the handling of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission budget, alleging that a house resolution was prepared and presented in the names of lawmakers without their knowledge or approval.

“It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in our names without our consent and presented as if members had debated and approved it. That is unacceptable, and we cannot allow such a breach of legislative procedure,” he stated.

The lawmaker also dismissed concerns that the speaker’s possession of the assembly’s mace could hinder the impeachment process, saying the house was fully aware of the constitutional procedures required to carry out its responsibilities.