THE spokesperson of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Oltunji Fabiyi, said on Monday that the assembly would not hold plenary until the Speaker, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji resigns.
Speaking with newsmen, Fabiyi, reiterated that the majority of the lawmakers were in support of the Speaker’s removal.
The lawmakers accused the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of frustrating the move by allegedly persuading lawmakers to abandon the impeachment.
The lawmakers pushing for the impeachment of Oladiji, over the alleged diversion of N44m meant for the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), insisted there is ‘no going back’ on the process.
The lawmakers, challenged Aiyedatiwa to come out clean on the matter, maintaining that the Speaker had lost the confidence of the majority of members and that his removal had become inevitable.
But the governor has denied the allegation, maintaining that he has no hand in the events unfolding in the House of assembly.
However, Fabiyi, said all the lawmakers had signed the impeachment notice against Oladiji, stressing that the decision was the collective resolution of the House.
Fabiyi said the lawmakers had already informed governor Aiyedatiwa of their decision, stressing that the impeachment move was purely an internal affair of the assembly.
He, however, questioned the governor’s interest in retaining the Speaker, alleging that some lawmakers had been approached by government officials and pressured to withdraw their support for the impeachment process.
He said: ‘There is no going back. That is the resolution of members. We have nothing against the governor, but we don’t want our present leadership again. There is no reason why somebody should continue to impose himself on us when we don’t want him again.
‘I have the opinion that the government is calling some members to backpedal on the issue of impeachment. I don’t know the special interest the governor has. If there is no hidden agenda, I see no reason why he should be protecting the Speaker.
‘So I don’t know the special interest that the governor is having. At least 21 members have signed the impeachment against Mr. Speaker. To me, I don’t know the interest of Mr governor, unless if the government is telling us that they have anything or something in common.
‘Perhaps the governor has reasons best known to him for supporting the Speaker. Otherwise, I see no reason or justification for his intervention. Both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker committed the error that led to this situation. There is no going back on the impeachment; it is the collective resolution of the members.
‘I see no reason why anyone should still be backing the Speaker at this stage. We have met with the governor and made it clear that we have nothing against him. Our concern is simply that we no longer have confidence in the present leadership of the House.’
Meanwhile, Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, denied allegations that he was frustrating the impeachment move against the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
According to the governor’s spokesman: ‘Mr. Governor has nothing to do with what is happening in the House of Assembly and he has not prevented members from carrying out their legislative duties.
‘Mr. Governor’s interest is in maintaining peace, law and order. He is not stopping lawmakers from performing any of their legitimate responsibilities.’
The Speaker is facing impeachment after 21 of the 26 lawmakers signed a notice seeking his removal over allegations of financial mismanagement.
The lawmakers accused the Speaker of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of an alleged N44 million released for the reordering of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2026 budget.