Why Ogun Assembly Speaker, Oluomo Was Impeached

•New Speaker, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide

By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta

Eighteen lawmakers have removed Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Kunle Oluomo..

It was learnt that the 18 out of the 26 – member Assembly removed Oluomo who is representing Ifo 1 State Constituency.

It was learnt on Tuesday that Daisi Elemide, a member representing Odeda constituency has been elected to replace Oluomo.

Mr Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North 1), moved the motion for the speakers impeachment while it was seconded by Mr Ademola Adeniran (APC-Sagamu11)

It was also gathered that the plan to remove him dates back to September, 2023 but the lawmakers kept managing and tolerating Oluomo because of the repeated intervention of Governor Dapo Abiodun and Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

However, it was said that the Governor is in the know the plot to remove Oluomo on Tuesday and has kept mum since the impeachment sailed through.

It was also learnt that the lawmakers also wanted to remove him about 10 days ago but decided to postpone it until the Governor’s pending case at the Supreme Court was concluded.

They reckoned that should Oluomo be removed while the election petition cases were still pending, it would send a wrong signal to Ogun State Indigenes and residents that someone was sponsoring them.

The 18 lawmakers also factored the 2024 Appropriation Bill into the game, not willing to effect the Assembly leadership change before now lest it hurts the smooth presentation of the budget by the Governor and its passage by the house.

With the election matters over and budget passed and signed into law, the coast was clear for the lawmakers to strike, they struck on Tuesday, January 23 and removed Oluomo as their Speaker.

The Daily Crucible gathered that Oluomo was impeached over alleged gross misconduct bordering on high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial mismanagement and inciting lawmakers against themselves.

Kunle Oluomo (APC-Ifo1) was Impeached by 18 lawmakers out of 21 member assembly on Tuesday, during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South).

Mr Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North 1), moved the motion for the speakers impeachment while it was seconded by Mr Ademola Adeniran (APC-Sagamu11).

The rattled and impeached Speaker it was gathered, instructed his driver to use the security escort Hilux vehicle to barricade the entrance to the Assembly complex and for hours, prevented the lawmakers from driving out of the premise after the impeachment process was concluded.

It was not until the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Abiodun Alamutu arrived the scene and after a member of the house and the suspected arrowhead in the impeachment plot, Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju’s car parked in the Assembly complex was thoroughly ransacked by the police operatives that Oluomo’s escort Hilux vehicle was removed from causing obstruction as it dawn on all that there was nothing incriminating in Adeyanju’s car.

The Notice of Impeachment signed by the 18 lawmakers, including lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Oluomo was sacked by colleagues in line with Section 92(2) (C) of the Constitution.

The impeachment notice was endorsed by the Clerk of the House, which was also agreement with Order 11of the Standing Rule of the House of Assembly.

“Sequel to the gross misconducts above mentioned and in consonance with Section 92(2) (C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Order 11 of the Standing rule of the House of Assembly, we the undersigned duly elected members of the 10th Assembly of Ogun State House of Assembly move for the impeachment of Mr. Speaker, Rt Hon Olakunle Taiwo Oluomo with immediate effect.”

The 18 lawmakers that carried out the legislative coup against Oluomo include; Hon. Adeyanju Adegoke Olusesi, Hon. Akingbade Jemili, Hon. Lawal Samsideen Adekunle, Hon. Ayodele Wasiu, Hon. Lamidi Olatunji, Hon. Awolaja Dickson Kolawole, Hon. Adeniran Ademola Adeyinka, Hon. Elemide Oladaisi, and Hon Bello Mohammed.

Others are: Hon. Adesanya Oluseun, Hon. Atobatele Lukmon, Hon. Waliu Ifedolapo, Hon. Amosun Yusuf, Hon. Babatunde Tella, Hon. Soneye Damilola, Hon Adeleye Lukman, Hon. Ajayi Bolanle Lateefat and Hon. Kashamu Rasheed.

Speaking to newsmen after he was elected as the new speaker, Elemide explained that the people of the state should expect the best from him.

He said, “We are law abiding legislators .
We want the world to know that there has been changed in leadership.

“18 members signed for me to be the speaker. People should remain calm. We are in custody of all the authority of the house. We are saying that the new leadership will support the governor.

” The governor does not know anything about this impeachment.”

Also speaking, Mr Damilola Soneye (APC-Obafemi Owode), noted that the office of the speaker is to be first among equals.

“The speaker was impeached due to gross misconduct which bothers on high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves,” he said.

According to a Notice of Impeachment signed by the 18 lawmakers, including lawmakers from both the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Oluomo was impeached in line with Section 92(2) (C) of the Constitution.

His impeachment, according to the notice endorsed by the Clerk of the House, was also in line with Order 11of the Standing Rule of the House of Assembly.

Oluomo was accused of high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance, poor leadership style, financial misappropriation, and inciting members against themselves.

The 18 lawmakers include; Hon. Adeyanju Adegoke Olusesi, Hon. Akingbade Jemili, Hon. Lawal Samsideen Adekunle, Hon. Ayodele Wasiu, Hon. Lamidi Olatunji, Hon. Awolaja Dickson Kolawole, Hon. Adeniran Ademola Adeyinka, Hon. Elemide Oladaisi, and Hon Bello Mohammed.